# NTSB FTW99LA191: Bell OH-58A, N9254R, Bastrop, LA, July 16, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 1999, 08:34 local (13:34 UTC) - Place: Bastrop, LA - Coordinates: 32.770767, -91.900917 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7708&lon=-91.9009&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46803 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46803/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA191 ## Probable cause The failure of the refueling truck's filter to separate water resulting in the water contamination in the helicopter's fuel system and subsequent loss of engine power. A 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(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - airport facilities,refueling truck/equipment - other (cause) - fuel system,tank - contamination,water (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power due to a contaminated fuel system. Days prior to the accident flight, the refueling truck had been contaminated with water, and the accident helicopter had been filled with the contaminated fuel. The pilot and ground crew became aware of the situation and sumped both the truck and the helicopter. The pilot thought that the helicopter's fuel system was free of the contaminated fuel. During the accident flight, the engine lost power, the pilot initiated an autorotation, and the helicopter impacted pine trees. The FAA inspector observed water and algae in the helicopter's fuel filters. The operator stated that the refueling truck's water filter failed to separate the water from the fuel during the fueling operations. After the accident, the operator installed water/fuel separators in all the refueling trucks in addition to the filters that were already in place as an extra measure of safety. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 1999, approximately 0834 central daylight time, a Bell OH-58A helicopter, N9254R, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power near Bastrop, Louisiana. The instrument-rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by North Star Helicopters Inc., of Jasper, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from a private staging area near Bastrop, Louisiana. According to the pilot, he had completed his 30th application of arsenal, a chemical used for aerial application flights, and was returning to the staging area. The helicopter was flying at 150 feet agl when the engine power "gradually decreased," and the engine lost total power. The pilot stated that the "ENGINE OUT" warning light illuminated. He initiated an autorotation, during which the helicopter contacted pine trees that were approximately 20 feet tall. The helicopter came to rest on its left side in the pine trees. The tail boom, the left skid, and the main rotor blades were damaged. The FAA inspector, who visited the accident site, reported that the helicopter's fuel system was contaminated with water and algae. He stated that water and algae were found in the helicopter's fuel filters. According to the operator, the refueling truck had been contaminated with water a few days prior to the accident. The accident helicopter was fueled from the contaminated truck. The ground crew and pilot became aware of the situation and sumped the helicopter's fuel tanks and the refueling truck. The pilot thought he had sumped all of the water out of the helicopter's fuel tanks. The pilot took the helicopter on the first flight since the discovery of contamination and experienced the ensuing engine failure. The operator stated that the filter on the refueling truck had failed to separate the water from the fuel during the fueling operations. The operator reported that all of its refueling trucks have since been modified with additional water/fuel separators as an extra measure of safety. ## Aircraft - Registration: N9254R (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Bell OH-58A - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 71-20844 - Airframe hours: 3777 - Engines: Allison C-20B-T63 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: North Star Helicopter Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 15, 1999, 66 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 12,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MLU, 18 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 19990716047779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990716047779A), Jul 16, 1999: Bell OH58A, Bastrop, LA, Substantial damage. (.4) The helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power due to a contaminated fuel system. Days prior to the accident flight, the refueling truck had been… 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.