# NTSB DFW07CA066: Bell ARH-70 Exp., N445HR, Mansfield, TX, February 21, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 21, 2007, 14:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Mansfield, TX - Coordinates: 32.5744444444444, -97.1194444444444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5744&lon=-97.1194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Fort Worth, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 65262 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65262/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA066 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to blockage in a fuel system check valve which was the result of the improper assembly of fuel boost pump by company maintenance personnel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel system,pump - blocked(total) (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command - Roll over, emergency landing - landing gear,skid assembly - separation - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The helicopter rolled over during an autorotation following a loss of engine power. The commercial test pilot was performing required test card procedures on the maiden flight of the experimental helicopter. The pilot reported that when he initiated a test flight sequence that called for the helicopter to be configured for slow flight in a shallow descent, the engine low fuel pressure light illuminated followed by an audio alert indicating an engine flame-out. The pilot reported that he immediately entered an autorotation that required a 180-degree turn to the left in order to reach the best available landing area on the fairway of a local golf course. With the helicopter aligned with the intended landing area, the pilot noted that the selected flight path conflicted with a tree on the approach, so the pilot applied collective pitch to slow the rate of descent and clear the tree. As soon as the helicopter cleared the obstacle, the pilot again re-entered a full autorotation. The helicopter touched down in a near level attitude with a slightly faster than normal forward speed. The pilot reported that as the helicopter settled on the golf course fairway, the landing skids began to dig into the soft terrain. The aircraft rocked forward and the toes of the skids dug into the ground, which resulted in the landing gear assembly breaking-off the airframe at all four attachment points and the forward looking infrared mount assembly impacting the ground. The aircraft continued to pivot on the nose and came to rest on its left side, which resulted in structural damage. The investigation revealed that the fuel line to the engine was blocked at the fuel boost pump assembly where the check valve mounts to the fuel switch. Foreign objects were lodged in each of the two check valves, which created a fuel starvation situation and the subsequent engine flame-out. ## Factual narrative The 3,150-hour commercial test pilot was performing required test flight procedures on the maiden flight of the experimental certificated helicopter. The pilot reported that when he initiated a test flight sequence that called for the helicopter to be configured for slow flight in a shallow descent, the engine low fuel pressure light illuminated followed by an audio alert indicating an engine flame-out. The pilot reported that he immediately entered an autorotation that required a 180-degree turn to the left in order to reach the best available landing area on the fairway of a local golf course. With the helicopter aligned with the intended landing area, the pilot noted that it appeared that the selected flight path conflicted with a tree on the approach, so the pilot applied collective pitch to slow the rate of descent and clear the tree. As soon as the helicopter cleared the obstacle, the pilot again re-entered a full autorotation. The helicopter touched down in a near level attitude with a slightly faster than normal forward speed. The pilot reported that as the helicopter settled on the golf course fairway, the landing skids began to dig in to the soft terrain. The aircraft rocked forward and the toes of the skids dug into the ground which resulted in the landing gear assembly breaking-off the airframe at all four attachment points and the forward looking infrared mount assembly impacted the ground. The aircraft continued to pivot on the nose and came to rest on its left side, which resulted in structural damage. The test pilot and the rated observer were not injured and both were able to egress unassisted. The investigation revealed that the fuel to the engine was blocked at the fuel boost pump assembly where the check valve mounts to the fuel switch, due to foreign objects being lodged in each of the two check valves which created a fuel starvation situation and the subsequent engine flame-out. Weather at the time of the accident was reported as winds from 240 degrees and 4 knots, clear skies, 10 statute miles visibility, and a temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N445HR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N445HR-2008-12-16), registration cancelled 2008-12-16, S/N 53906, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell ARH-70 Exp. - Registry model: [Bell 445](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-445) (registry code 05621DD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Honeywell HTS-900 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-hts-900-series) (registry code 33812, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 53906 - Airframe hours: 1 - Engines: Allied Signal HTS900-1-2D 925 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Bht, doing business as Bell Helicopter - Registered owner: Bell Helicopter - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 1, 2007, 1 hours before - Departed: KGKY, Arlington, TX - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: KGKY, Arlington Municpal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2006; seat: right; flight hours: 3,150 total, 34 in this make and model, 2,164 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; age 35; injuries: none; military, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 2,037 total, 9 in this make and model, 673 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KGKY, 6 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070221001619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070221001619A), Feb 21, 2007: Bell 445, Mansfield, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 21, 2007 at 1445 CST, an experimental research and development Bell helicopter Textron aircraft (helicopter), N445HR, owned and operated by… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.