# NTSB ERA10LA484: Bell OH-58A, N38FA, Covington, TN, September 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 2010, 15:50 local (20:50 UTC) - Place: Covington, TN - Coordinates: 35.551944, -89.441108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5519&lon=-89.4411&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Rolls-Royce Engine, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77332 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA484 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77332/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77332 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA484 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to contamination of the helicopter's fuel supply. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel injector nozzle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057313): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057313/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057313/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the initial climb on an aerial application flight, the helicopter's engine lost power while at 30 feet above ground level and in translational lift. The pilot stated that the engine began surging and the helicopter began losing altitude and impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the helicopter's fuel system by the owner revealed particulate matter in the fuel nozzle. When the nozzle was examined by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) it had no carbon deposits, indicating that it had been cleaned prior to shipment. An examination of the fuel nozzle after a postaccident engine run revealed carbon deposits on the surface. The engine was then placed in an engine test cell and operated normally with no hesitation or abnormalities noted. The NTSB's materials laboratory determined the particulate matter to be torque stripe material. Although it could not be determined where the particulate matter came from, it is likely that it restricted the fuel supply to the engine and resulted in the loss of power. ## Factual narrative On September 18, 2010, approximately 1550 central daylight time, a Bell OH58A, N38FA, operated by B&S Air, Inc., impacted terrain following a loss of engine power immediately after takeoff from a portable platform near Covington, Tennessee. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the aerial application flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The helicopter received substantial damage and the certificated commercial pilot was not injured. According to the operator and the pilot, the helicopter was refueled with approximately 165 pounds of fuel from a 500-gallon, stainless steel tank prior to the accident flight. The operator utilized that tank to refuel the helicopter for several days prior to the accident, including the 4 hours the helicopter flew the morning of the accident. During takeoff, about 30 feet above ground level and at approximately 30 mph, while at translational lift, the engine began "surging." The helicopter experienced a loss of engine power and began losing altitude. It impacted the ground "fairly hard" and the main rotor blades struck and severed the tail boom approximately 1 foot aft of the horizontal stabilizer. According to the pilot and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and rotorcraft-helicopter. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on December 18, 2009 and at that time the pilot reported 20,000 total hours of flight experience. The pilot reported approximately 800 hours in the accident helicopter make and model. The engine was removed from the helicopter and was examined at a facility near Coatesville, Pennsylvania on October 7 and 8, 2010. A pneumatic leak check was performed and no leaks were detected. An external examination of the engine was accomplished and no damage or abnormalities were noted. The oil and fuel filters were free of debris and the magnetic chip detectors were free of debris. The fuel nozzle was removed and appeared clean and displayed no carbon deposits. According to the FAA inspector that provided the oversight for the engine removal, the operator had disassembled the fuel nozzle and found some particles in an undetermined location within the nozzle. The particles were placed in sealed cans and were sent with the engine. The particles, as well as exemplar samples of the fuel lines similar in color and torque indicating paint utilized on the fuel line connector "B" nut, were sent to the Safety Board's Materials Laboratory for analysis. The engine was installed on a test stand and started normally. The engine was accelerated to the takeoff power setting with no hesitation or anomalies noted. The engine was operated according to the guidelines specified by Rolls-Royce with no anomalies noted. Several accelerations and decelerations were conducted at the end of the engine test as well as agovernor droop check and no anomalies were noted or observed. Examination of the fuel nozzle after operation revealed carbon deposits on the surface. The samples were examined by the Safety Board's Material Laboratory and it was determined that the material found in the fuel nozzle was torque stripe material. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38FA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38FA), registered now, S/N 70-15448 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL OH-58A - Registry model: [Bell OH-58A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (registry code 1181579) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 70-15448 - Engines: Allison T63-A-720 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: B & S Air Inc - Registered owner: T & M Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Covington, TN - Destination: Covington, TN - Airport: M04, Covington Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 5, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 20,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: NQA, 24 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 20100918055909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100918055909A), Sep 18, 2010: Bell OH-58A, Covington, TN, Substantial damage. N38FA an OH58A had taken off from a fueling platform on top of a tanker truck. The weather was clear with variable wind at 2 mph. Fuel load was 150-170 lbs.… ## Other investigations on N38FA (2) 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. - [NTSB ERA12CA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA199), Mar 1, 2012: Bell OH-58A (N38FA), Eufaula, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting wind, which resulted in an excessive descent rate and hard landing. - [NTSB LAX03LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA126), Apr 4, 2003: Bell OH-58A (N38FA), Calipatria, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the helicopter, and an inadvertent dynamic rollover during takeoff-initial climb, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain. ## Docket (13 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 18, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77332. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 491 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA email [Excerpt] (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353452&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%20-%20FAA%20email%20%5BExcerpt%5D-Master.PDF - Fuel Receipt (item 3, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Receipt-Redacted.PDF - Helicopter Operator Information - NTSB Report Supplement (item 4, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337322&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Helicopter%20Operator%20Information%20-%20NTSB%20Report%20Supplement-Master.PDF - Millington Tenn weather (item 5, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353451&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Millington%20Tenn%20weather-Master.PDF - Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 11-028 Unknown material (item 6, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345994&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Factual%20Report%2011-028%20Unknown%20material-Master.PDF - Engine Test Run Data (item 7, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353443&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Test%20Run%20Data-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 8, .PDF, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353619&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 9, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353611&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Helicopter After Recovery (Courtesy of Insurance Adjuster) (item 10, .PDF, 845 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353444&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Helicopter%20After%20Recovery%20(Courtesy%20of%20Insurance%20Adjuster)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Aft View of Helicopter Post-recovery (Courtesy of Insurance Adjuster) (item 11, .PDF, 948 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353445&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Aft%20View%20of%20Helicopter%20Post-recovery%20(Courtesy%20of%20Insurance%20Adjuster)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Engine as Received (Courtesy of Rolls Royce) (item 12, .PDF, 637 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353446&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Engine%20as%20Received%20(Courtesy%20of%20Rolls%20Royce)-Master.PDF - Photo 4: Fuel Nozzle as Received (Courtesy of Rolls Royce) (item 13, .PDF, 313 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353447&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%3A%20Fuel%20Nozzle%20as%20Received%20(Courtesy%20of%20Rolls%20Royce)-Master.PDF 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.