# NTSB FTW02LA089: Bell 206L-3, N227H, Tulsa, OK, March 4, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 2002, 12:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Tulsa, OK - Coordinates: 36.116111, -96.025833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1161&lon=-96.0258&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54290 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54290/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54290 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA089 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - evasive maneuver - performed, pilot in command - object - vehicle - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - rotor rpm - low - misc rotorcraft,main rotor/tail boom contact ## Analysis The local flight was en route to the company helipad for fuel when the engine lost power approximately 300 yards short of the helipad. During an autorotation to a road, the pilot had to execute an evasive maneuver to avoid a vehicle. Subsequently, at 10 feet agl, the main rotor blades struck 1.5 inch-diameter tree branches. The main rotor RPM decreased, the helicopter landed hard on the road, and the main rotor blades contacted and severed the tail boom. The pilot estimated 300 pounds of fuel was on board at the time of the accident. During the inspection of the helicopter, the engine was started and test run to idle speed, and no anomalies were noted. The fuel nozzle and fuel filters were inspected, and no anomalies were noted. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 2002, at 1235 central standard time, a Bell 206L-3 single-engine helicopter, N227H, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a road following a total loss of engine power while on approach to a company helipad near Tulsa, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by Tulsa Security Patrol Inc., d.b.a. Action Helicopter Services of Tulsa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The flight originated from Tulsa's Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport, approximately 1230, and was en route to the company helipad. The pilot reported that the flight was en route to the helipad for fuel when the engine lost power approximately 300 yards short of the helipad. During an autorotation to a road, the pilot had to execute an evasive maneuver to avoid a vehicle. Subsequently, at 10 feet agl, the main rotor blades struck 1.5 inch-diameter tree branches. The main rotor RPM decreased, the helicopter landed hard on the road, and the main rotor blades contacted and severed the tail boom. The pilot estimated 300 pounds of fuel was on board at the time of the accident. On March 14, 2002, at a facility in Tulsa, an FAA inspector, the operator's director of maintenance, and the pilot examined the helicopter. Prior to the FAA inspector's arrival, the main rotor blades and main rotor mast had been removed. During the inspection, the engine was started and test run to idle speed, and no anomalies were noted. The fuel nozzle and fuel filters were inspected, and no anomalies were noted. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: N227H (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-3 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 51317 - Airframe hours: 3059.1 - Engines: Allison 250C-30 600 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Action Helicopter Service, doing business as Action Helicopter Services - Registered owner: Tulsa Security Patrol Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 23, 2002, 3.8 hours before - Departed: RVS, Tulsa, OK - Destination: OK76, TULSA, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 21,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 20,600 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 18 °F ## 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 20020304002379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020304002379A), Mar 4, 2002: Bell 206L3, Tulsa, OK, Substantial damage. (.19) On March 4, 2002, at 1235 central standard time, a Bell 206L-3 single-engine helicopter, N227H, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54290. 537 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 477 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391954&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391955&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.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.