# NTSB LAX02LA295: Bell 206L-1, N601GM, North Las Vegas, NV, September 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 25, 2002, 08:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: North Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.2, -115.183334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2000&lon=-115.1833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55778 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55778/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA295 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power due to an inadequate fuel supply. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - attempted, pilot in command - Hard landing, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground - flare - misjudged, pilot in command ## Analysis The helicopter landed hard approximately 2 miles south of the destination airport following fuel exhaustion. The pilot arrived at the airport behind his intended schedule, and due to the delay, opted not to refuel the helicopter. He departed with 167 pounds of fuel onboard, equating to about 40 minutes of flight time, which he thought would be a sufficient amount for the flight. Upon arriving at his destination (a 3-minute flight), he was instructed to leave the helicopter running. When he decreased the throttle input, he disengaged the caution-panel circuit breaker in an effort to silence the low rotor rpm warning horn. He shut down the engine for a short break and then departed to go back to the airport. With the helicopter leveled off about 3,000 feet above ground level, he scanned the cockpit gauges and realized that he had not reset the panel circuit breaker. He pushed the breaker in and the low fuel light instantly illuminated, followed by the fuel boost warning lights. While the pilot was looking for suitable terrain to execute an emergency landing, the engine quit and he configured the helicopter in an autorotation. He flared about 18 feet above ground level and the helicopter fell to the ground. He input full collective prior to impact, but the helicopter touched down hard. The pilot stated that the helicopter's engine had quit due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On September 25, 2002, about 0815 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206L-1, N601GM, experienced a hard landing approximately 2 miles south of the North Las Vegas Airport, North Las Vegas, Nevada. Silver State Helicopters was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The local flight departed a parking lot about 5 miles from the North Las Vegas Airport at an unknown time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. In a written statement, the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was for the helicopter to be photographed for advertising purposes. The pilot arrived at the North Las Vegas Airport behind his intended schedule, and due to the delay, opted not to refuel the helicopter. He departed with 167 pounds of fuel onboard, equating to about 40 minutes of flight time, which he thought would be a sufficient amount for the flight. Upon arriving at his destination (a 3-minute flight), he was instructed to leave the helicopter running. When he decreased the throttle input, he disengaged the caution-panel circuit breaker in an effort to silence the low rotor rpm warning horn. Under the instruction of the photographers, he preformed several maneuvers and shut down the helicopter. The pilot further stated that after a short break, he started the helicopter again and completed a few more maneuvers before departing back to the North Las Vegas Airport. While approaching the airport, with the helicopter leveled off about 3,000 feet above ground level, the pilot scanned the cockpit gauges and realized that he had not reset the panel circuit breaker. He pushed the breaker in and the low fuel light instantly illuminated, followed by the fuel boost warning lights. While the pilot was looking for suitable terrain to execute an emergency landing, the engine quit and he configured the helicopter in an autorotation. After clearing power lines, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter to the furthest point east of the proposed landing area. He flared about 18 feet above ground level and the helicopter fell to the ground. He input full collective prior to impact, but the helicopter touched down hard. As a result of the impact, the helicopter incurred damage to the tail boom and skids. A Federal Aviation Administration maintenance inspector recalled examining the helicopter after the accident occurred. Examination of the fuel system indicated that no fuel was being picked up by the pump, and no fuel remained in the firewall-mounted main fuel filter. He further stated that the pilot had reported that the helicopter's engine had quit due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot failed to file or return a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N601GM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N601GM), registered now, S/N 45638, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 317HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-317hp) (registry code 03011, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 45638 - Engines: Allison 250-C20 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Silver State Helicopters - Registered owner: Vista Helicopter Services, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: North Las Vegas, NV - Destination: VGT, North Las Vegas, NV - Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 725 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: KVGT ## 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 20020925024829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020925024829A), Sep 25, 2002: Bell 206L1, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 25, 2002, at approximately 0800 local time, Mr. Jerry m. airola, pilot-in-command of N601GM (BHT-206-L1) made and emergency hard landing in… ## Other investigations on N601GM (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 DFW06LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06LA197), Aug 12, 2006: Bell 206L-1 (N601GM), Ozona, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable terrain for landing. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain. 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.