LAX03LA183

The helicopter was damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The operator reported that the pilot was positioning the helicopter after maintenance. The helicopter was in cruise when the engine lost power, and the pilot executed an autorotation. The helicopter landed hard, and the tailboom separated. Examination of the helicopter determined that the engine compartment and engine were not damaged. The particle separator was undamaged, and there was no blockage. The fuel control and power turbine governor rigging was intact and appeared normal. The bleed valve was in the open position. When closed by hand, it freely returned to the open position. The pneumatic tubing was intact, and all B-nuts were at least finger tight. N2 rotated freely and smoothly with no unusual noises, and was continuous to the main transmission. The fuel supply line from the fire shield to the fuel nozzle contained a normal amount of fuel. There was contamination in the airframe and engine fuel filters. Disassembly and inspection of the fuel nozzle revealed contamination in the filter screen. The screen had collapsed, and the contamination had the appearance of "DIEGME" (Apple Jelly).

On June 6, 2003, about 1715 central daylight time, a Bell 206B, N242TK, made a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Malone, Texas. The helicopter landed hard and the tail boom separated. Heart of Texas Helicopters was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The cross-country positioning flight departed a private dirt pad near Baldwell, Texas, about 1700, en route to a private pad near Waco, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 31 degrees 58 minutes north latitude and 96 degrees 52 minutes west longitude.

The operator reported that the pilot was positioning the helicopter after maintenance. The helicopter was in cruise when the engine lost power, and the pilot executed an autorotation. They had refueled the helicopter prior to takeoff.

A Rolls-Royce Allison representative examined the helicopter under the supervision of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator. He reported that the engine compartment and engine were not damaged. The particle separator was undamaged, and there was no blockage. The fuel control and power turbine governor rigging was intact and appeared normal. He noted that the bleed valve was in the open position. When closed by hand, it freely returned to the open position. The pneumatic tubing was intact, and all B-nuts were as least finger tight. N2 rotated freely and smoothly with no unusual noises, and was continuous to the main transmission.

The Roll-Royce representative reported that the fuel supply line from the fire shield to the fuel nozzle contained a normal amount of fuel. He observed contamination in the airframe and engine fuel filters. He disassembled and inspected the fuel nozzle, which revealed contamination in the filter screen. The screen had collapsed. He said that the contamination had the appearance of "DIEGME" (Apple Jelly).