- Date
- July 11, 1996, 06:42 local (11:42 UTC)
- Place
- Matagorda, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1082NBell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 19, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960711016639A
- Case key
- 19904
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power due to fuel system contamination. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he flew the helicopter to a refueling facility and refueled. Shortly after takeoff, while en route to pick up passengers, the engine began to lose power. The pilot elected to make a precautionary landing; however, the engine lost total power about 50 to 75 feet above the ground. An autorotation was made to an area of bushes. Examination of the fuel system revealed that the airframe fuel filter was contaminated with water and a green material. The engine driven fuel pump filter was also contaminated, and the fuel control screen contained some foreign material. Samples of fuel were collected from fuel facilities that had been used on the day of the accident and the day before the accident. However, no relevant contamination was found.
Factual narrative
On July 11, 1996, at 0642 central daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N1082N, registered to and operated by Horizon Helicopters, Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Matagorda, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was originating from Matagorda at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported to the FAA inspector and in the Pilot/Operator Report that he flew the helicopter to the fueling facility and fueled the helicopter with 50 gallons of Jet A. Shortly after takeoff, while en route to pick up passengers, the engine began to lose power. While executing a precautionary landing, at about 50-75 feet AGL, the engine lost total power. An autorotation was initiated to an area of bushes that were three to four feet in height. The helicopter landed hard, and the main rotor severed the tailboom forward of the horizontal stabilizer.
Examination of the helicopter by the FAA inspector revealed that the airframe fuel filter was contaminated with water and a green material. The engine driven fuel pump filter was also contaminated, and the fuel control screen had some foreign material in it.
Fuel samples were taken at the fueling facility where the helicopter had just fueled. The sample taken at the fueling nozzle contained no contamination. The sample taken at the sump revealed only minor foreign material. Fuel samples were also taken at all fueling facilities the helicopter was fueled at the day prior to the accident. There was no contamination found.
The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he had taken a fuel sample during his preflight of the helicopter, and no contamination was found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1082N
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2945
- Airframe hours
- 11,060
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 417 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Horizon Helicopter, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 29, 1996 · 38 hours before
- Departed
- 02TA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 7,944 total · 1,400 in this make and model · 6,404 as pilot in command · 77 in the last 90 days · 77 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PSX, 16 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.