# NTSB ERA19LA126: Bell OH 58A, N519P, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, March 13, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 13, 2019, 17:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL - Coordinates: 30.206111, -81.403335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2061&lon=-81.4033&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Rolls Royce, FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99109 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99109/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99109 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA126 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the introduction of air into fuel lines and an interruption of fuel flow to the engine. ## 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 · Not specified; 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/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 third aerial surveillance flight of the day, about 5 minutes after takeoff while orbiting at an altitude of 1,100 ft mean sea level, the helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed an autorotation to a fairway on a golf course. During the landing, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and the fuselage frame around the windscreen. An initial postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that air was present in the fuel lines, which likely led to an interruption in fuel flow to the engine and the loss of engine power. Additional examination confirmed continuity of the fuel system. The engine was subsequently run in the manufacturer’s test cell facility and met all performance standards with no anomalies noted. Given the postaccident findings and that the helicopter departed with the fuel tank about 3/4 full, the investigation was unable to determine how or where air was introduced into the fuel lines. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 2019, about 1755 eastern daylight time, a Bell OH-58A helicopter, N519P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The commercial pilot and crewmember were not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 public aircraft flight. According to the pilot, the accident occurred on the third flight of the day, and he had performed a preflight inspection prior to each flight. All three flights were part of an aerial surveillance mission over a local golf tournament. The first flight was 90 minutes long, and the helicopter was refueled prior to the second flight, which was 30 minutes long. The accident flight departed the golf course landing zone with an estimated 340 lbs of fuel on board. About 5 minutes after takeoff while orbiting at 1,100 ft mean sea level, the helicopter suddenly yawed to the left and the “low rotor” horn sounded. The pilot reduced the collective pitch and the horn silenced. He subsequently noticed the “engine out” and “master caution” lights illuminated on the instrument panel, and the engine tachometer showed a decreasing rpm. He performed an autorotation to a fairway on the golf course. During touchdown, the helicopter began to violently shake as it moved forward across the soft ground. As the windscreen began to crack and separate from its frame, the pilot increased collective pitch to reduce the vibration and the helicopter came to a stop. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the tail boom and the frame around the windscreen and doors. Fuel was present in the fuel tank and a sample taken from the tank was clear with no water present. No fuel or other fluid leaks were observed. A field examination of the engine revealed that all the accessible fuel line “B” nuts displayed matching torque stripes and could not be loosened by hand. The engine components rotated freely by hand with no binding, and there were no visible indications of any components overheating. The starter operated normally. When the starter was engaged the first time, no fuel was present at the fuel spray nozzle supply line. After bleeding air from the fuel lines, operating the starter resulted in fuel flow at the spray nozzle. The engine control’s pneumatic lines were pressurized with shop air with no leaks detected. A test run of the engine was performed at the engine manufacturer’s facility with oversight from an FAA inspector. The engine met all the manufacturer’s performance standards on the test cell, with no anomalies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N519P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N519P-2020-10-31), registration cancelled 2020-10-31, S/N 73-21899 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell OH 58A (No Series) - Registry model: [Bell OH-58A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (registry code 1181579) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 73-21899 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 8222 - Engines: Rolls Royce T63-A-720 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - local, Part 91 - Operator: St Johns County Sheriffs Office - Registered owner: St Johns County Sheriffs Office - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 6, 2019, 13 hours before - Departed: Ponte Vedra Bch, FL - Destination: SGJ, St Augustine, FL - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Video recording device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 822 total, 698 in this make and model, 765 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: CRG, 10 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 20190313001299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190313001299A), Mar 13, 2019: Bell OH-58A, Ponte Vedra, FL, Substantial damage. On March 13, 2019 the PIC was assigned to perform law enforcement patrol for the players championship golf tournament (tpc) in point Vedra beach Florida. The… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99109. 48.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12510106&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20NTSB_6120%20Corrected_print_Redacted2-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12523354&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-04%20-%20Record%20of%20Converation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector_ERA19LA126-Rel.pdf - Maintenance log excerpts (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 269 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12508103&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03-01%20Maintenence%20Log%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12504411&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_ERA19LA126-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - engine examination (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12504542&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-02%20-%20Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Engine%20Examination_ERA19LA126-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 43.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12540919&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=09-01%20Party%20Form%20Johnson_Redacted-Rel.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.