# NTSB ERA22LA192: Bell Helicopter Textron 206B, N919AC, Cedar Key, FL, April 18, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 18, 2022, 11:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Cedar Key, FL - Coordinates: 29.354257, -83.027988 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3543&lon=-83.0280&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104954 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104954/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104954 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA192 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel planning during agricultural spraying operations, which resulted in fuel starvation, a loss of engine power, and a hard landing following an autorotation. ## 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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1181518), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1181518), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/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 starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1181518), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181518), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was performing aerial application flights during which he returned to the landing zone five times to receive additional product. He recalled spending the majority of his time troubleshooting a spray rate system issue and was not paying attention to the fuel level while ground personnel were loading the product. During climb out on the final spray, the engine lost all power. During the subsequent autorotation and hard landing on a gravel road, the tail boom and tail rotor drive shaft sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter and that upon landing he noticed that the fuel gauge showed empty. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found that a total of 2.5 gallons of uncontaminated Jet A fuel was able to be sumped from the helicopter’s fuel system. Residual and trace amounts of fuel were discovered in the engine driven fuel pump and fuel filters. The helicopter was not equipped with an optional low fuel light. The helicopter flight manual advised to avoid uncoordinated turns and maneuvers with fewer than 20 gallons. It is likely that while the pilot maneuvered out of the field following his final spray, the engine was starved of fuel, which resulted in the loss of engine power. The operator following the accident amended their ground personnel training manual to require that both the ground personnel and the pilot ‘confirm fuel quantity OK’ prior to each takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N919AC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N919AC), registered now, S/N 4020, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON 206B (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206b) (registry code 1181518) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (registry code 54385, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4020 - Year built: 1988 - Airframe hours: 11661 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Vertical Vegetation Management LLC - Registered owner: Vertical Vegetation Management LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 2022 - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,555 total, 4,466 in this make and model, 5,430 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: CGC, 30 nm away - METAR: KCGC 181415Z AUTO 25006KT 10SM CLR 24/20 A2997 RMK AO2 ## 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 20220418002299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220418002299A), Apr 18, 2022: Bell Helicopter Textron 206B, Fowler'S Bluff, FL, Substantial damage. On April 18/2022, at 12:37PM, while on an aerial application flight in a remote area near Fowler'S Bluff (FL), N919AC, a Bell helicopter 206B, [privacy data… ## Other investigations on N919AC (1) 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 ERA23LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA295), Jun 25, 2023: Bell Helicopter Textron 206B (N919AC), Sandersville, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance of trees during landing, which resulted in a tail rotor contact with tree limbs and a subsequent loss of control. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104954. 9.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14630969&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 463 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14631270&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (FAA inspector) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14630723&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Rel.pdf - BELL206 flight manual excerpts (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 556 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14630510&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Bell206%20Flight%20Manual%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf - Operator manual changes (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 485 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14630979&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operator%20Manual%20Changes-Rel.pdf - Photo array - ERA22LA192 (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14631955&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-%20ERA22LA192-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.