# NTSB LAX07CA063: Belcher Helicycle, N6912B, Boulder City, NV, December 23, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 23, 2006, 12:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Boulder City, NV - Coordinates: 35.990745, -114.810478 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9907&lon=-114.8105&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65071 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65071/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA063 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power due to a fractured fuel line. ## 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, hover - in ground effect - fuel system,line - fatigue (cause) - fuel system,line - separation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The amateur-built experimental helicopter landed hard following a loss of engine power while in a 6-foot hover. The pilot said the helicopter was equipped with a 150-horsepower turbo shaft engine. The engine was originally developed for a military application and the manufacturer has since introduced it for sale to amateur builders. The pilot reported that he was in a hover 6 feet above the taxiway after landing when the engine lost power. He attempted a hovering autorotation; however, the helicopter landed hard. He examined the engine and related systems. He said the loss of power was due to a fractured and separated solid fuel line that went from the fuel manifold to one of the injectors. He stated that the crack was near a joint in the line and appeared to be from fatigue. ## Factual narrative On December 23, 2006, at 1245 Pacific standard time, a Belcher Helicycle, N6912B, an amateur-built experimental helicopter, landed hard following a loss of engine power while in a hover at 6 feet above ground level (agl) at the Boulder City, Nevada, airport. The helicopter was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, vertical stabilizer, and skids and skid attach points. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local area personal flight that originated at Jean, Nevada, at 1210, destined for Boulder City. The pilot said the helicopter was equipped with a Solar T62-32, a 150-horsepower turbo shaft engine. The engine was originally developed for a military application and the manufacturer has since introduced it for sale to amateur builders. The pilot reported that he was in a hover 6 feet above the taxiway when the engine lost power. He attempted a hovering autorotation; however, the helicopter landed hard. He examined the engine and related systems. He said the loss of power was due to a fractured and separated solid fuel line that went from the fuel manifold to one of the injectors. He stated that the crack was near a joint in the line and appeared to be from fatigue. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6912B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6912B), registered now, S/N 3-28-E2-23, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Belcher Helicycle - Registry model: [Belcher Michael HELICYCLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/belcher-michael-helicycle) (registry code 05621JN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 3-28-E2-23 - Airframe hours: 7 - Engines: Solar T-62-32 150 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 1, 2006, 7 hours before - Departed: 0L7, Jean, NV - Destination: 61B, Boulder City, NV - Airport: 61B, Boulder City Municipal, runway 9R, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3; seat: single; flight hours: 65 total, 6 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: LAS ## 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 20061223029889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061223029889A), Dec 23, 2006: Amtr HELICYCLE, Boulder City, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 23, 2006 pilot was returning to Boulder City airport (61B) after a short cross country from jean airport (0L7). Pilot stated there was no… 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.