# NTSB FTW94LA110: Bell 206B, N2779B, Belen, NM, March 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 27, 1994, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Belen, NM - Coordinates: 34.650138, -106.770347 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6501&lon=-106.7703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19020 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19020/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA110 ## Probable cause THE HARD LANDING DUE TO A DELAYED FLARE AND IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN. A FACTOR WAS THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - fuel system,pc line - leak (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - touchdown - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT AN ALTITUDE OF 200 - 400 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION TO A FLAT DESERT AREA, FREE OF OBSTACLES. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME AND DYNAMIC COMPONENTS. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE P3 LINE WAS LEAKING. ## Factual narrative On March 27, 1994, at 1420 mountain standard time, a Bell 206B, N2779B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Belen, New Mexico. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the positioning flight. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator report that he was in cruise flight at 200-400 feet above ground level when the engine "started to spool down." He further stated that he "entered autorotation and had a hard landing." An evaluation of the terrain available for the forced landing revealed that it was flat desert free of obstacles. An inspection of the helicopter revealed that during the hard landing control linkages failed, the left skid tip was severed, skid cross tube assembly penetrated the fuselage in the underside area, engine oil pan was penetrated, and the tail boom was severed by the main rotor blades, resulting in damage to both rotor blades. The aircraft came to rest in the upright position. An examination of the engine assembly revealed that the P3 line, associated with the fuel system, was leaking. The manufacturer reported that this condition would result in a loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2779B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2779B-2005-03-16), registration cancelled 2005-03-16, S/N 2819, built 1978 (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-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2819 - Airframe hours: 11639 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 450 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Aero West Management Services, doing business as Aerowest Management Services - Registered owner: Msi Helicopter, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 26, 1993, 103 hours before - Departed: ALM, ALAMOGORDO, NM - Destination: AEG, ALBUQUERQUE, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,366 total, 186 in this make and model, 1,316 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 25 knots, gusting 31 - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 20 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 19940327006799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940327006799A), Mar 27, 1994: Bell 206B, Belen, NM, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Made hard landing. Damaged skids. Fuselage. Rotors chopped off tailboom P3 line leaking. ## Other investigations on N2779B (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 DEN02FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02FA065), Jun 27, 2002: Bell 206BIII (N2779B), Raton, NM, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance of the static wire. Factors were the static wire, and the glaring sunlight condition. 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.