# NTSB ERA22LA330: Bell 206B, N39MK, Kenton, OH, July 21, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 21, 2022, 15:00 UTC - Place: Kenton, OH - Coordinates: 40.64302, -83.604706 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6430&lon=-83.6047&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105548 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA330 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105548/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105548 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA330 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1181511), [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: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was uncertain how much fuel was onboard the agricultural application helicopter before 8 to 10 gallons were added prior to departing on the accident flight. The helicopter had been filled with minimal fuel because of a heavy load of pesticide. After a flight to the field of about 4 minutes, he started the aerial application. During his first pass the engine rpm started to drop; he did not have enough altitude to initiate an autorotation and the helicopter descended before colliding with the ground. A postaccident examination of the fueling system revealed no fuel remained within the intact fuel tank. Additionally, examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. Based on this information, the engine likely lost power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 2022, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206B, N39MK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Kenton, Ohio. The commercial pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. According to the pilot, before the flight the helicopter was filled with minimal fuel because of a heavy load of pesticide. He said he received about 8 to 10 gallons of Jet-A fuel and flew over to the crop field. He flew about 4 minutes over to the field and started the aerial application. During his first pass he noticed the engine rpm starting to drop. He did not have enough altitude to initiate an autorotation and the helicopter descended and collided with the ground. The pilot did not know how much his total fuel quantity was before the flight but said he “used a 5-gallon mark as our zero mark to ensure we have enough fuel.” Postaccident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuselage and the skids were buckled. An examination of the fueling system revealed no anomalies with the fuel lines or fuel tank. The fuel tank cell was found empty of fuel and not breached. An examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A review of fuel flow chart excerpts for the 206B revealed that the general fuel consumption rate was about 25 gallons per hour. At this rate, the flight time with 8 to 10 gallons of fuel would be about 20-25 minutes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N39MK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39MK), registered now, S/N 2984, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20b) (registry code 03081, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2984 - Year built: 1980 - Engines: Allison 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Xtreme Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Kenton, OH - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 17, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,873 total, 192 in this make and model, 2,734 as pilot in command, 204 in the last 90 days, 159 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: EDJ, 19 nm away - METAR: METAR KEDJ 211715Z AUTO 27011G18KT 10SM FEW049 29/20 A2984 RMK A01= ## 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 20220721007799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220721007799A), Jul 21, 2022: Bell 206B, Kenton, OH, Destroyed. The pilot was conducting spraying application (pesticide) on crops (corn) he noticed a drop in engine RPM and didn't know if it was a faulty gauge or fuel… ## Other investigations on N39MK (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 MIA05CA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA160), Sep 23, 2005: Bell 206B3 (N39MK), Titusville, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's improper flare resulting in a hard landing and main rotor contact with tail boom. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105548. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14577837&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_1%20LA330_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - pilot interview and email statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14715690&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20pilot%20statement%20LA330-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record FAA statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14577744&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20FAA%20statement%20LA330-Rel.pdf - Fuel flow chart excerpts LA330 (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14577656&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuel%20flow%20chart%20excerpts%20LA330-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 744 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14577762&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA330-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.