- Date
- August 27, 1987, 16:58 local (23:58 UTC)
- Place
- Covelo, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N22HUBell 206L-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 3, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 25423
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 performed a vertical takeoff. At aprx 30 ft AGL, while transitioning to forward flight, the engine lost power and the pilot partially lowered the collective to maintain rotor RPM. The helicopter landed hard on sloping terrain and bounced laterally to the right colliding with trees. During the course of the investigation the helicopter was defueled. Aprx 14.6 gals of fuel were drained from the rear main fuel cell and aprx 4.7 gals were drained from the right front tank. Examination of the fuel system revealed contamination of the right and left in-line fuel filter assemblies (part no. 206-063-001). The contamination was identified as dirt, paint chips, lint type fuzz, and metal shavings. According to bell helicopter the fuel transfer system can be rendered inoperative by contaminants resulting in engine flameouts.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N22HU
- Reported as
- Bell 206L-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45562
- Airframe hours
- 3,082
- Engine
- Allison 250-C28B, 500 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Aris Helicopter Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 7, 1987 · 62 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,677 total · 1,284 in this make and model · 3,575 as pilot in command · 155 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- UKI, 40 nm away