# NTSB LAX91LA127: Bell 206B, N2072C, Honolulu, HI, March 9, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 8, 1991, 17:40 local (Mar 9, 1991, 03:40 UTC)
- Place: Honolulu, HI
- Coordinates: 21.350845, -157.880325 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3508&lon=-157.8803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27135
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27135/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA127

## Probable cause

INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATION BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR WAS THE PARTIAL DEFLATION OF THE EMERGENCY FLOTATION EQUIPMENT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command
- Ditching, landing
  - misc rotorcraft - failure,partial (contributing factor)
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - misc rotorcraft,emergency floatation gear - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

IN WRITTEN AND ORAL STATEMENTS PROVIDED BY THE PILOT AND PASSENGER, THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE WAS STARTED ABOUT 1420 HOURS HST. THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED HONOLULU, HAWAII, FOR A RESEARCH VESSEL LOCATED ABOUT 130 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH. THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE THE SHIP AND DECIDED TO RETURN TO HONOLULU. THE PILOT ESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT WITH HONOLULU TRACON AND REPORTED MINIMUM FUEL STATUS. ABOUT 15 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF HONOLULU, THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT SUCCESSFULLY AUTOROTATED TO THE WATER, BUT AFTER TOUCHING DOWN THE RIGHT FORWARD EMERGENCY FLOTATION GEAR DEFLATED, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO SINK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2072C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2072C-1991-04-16), registration cancelled 1991-04-16, S/N 3422 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3422
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Kenai Air Of Hawaii, Inc.
- Registered owner: Kenai Air Of Hawaii
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 7,134 total, 1,803 in this make and model, 6,979 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 25 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19910308004809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910308004809A), Mar 8, 1991: Bell 206B, Honolulu, HI, Destroyed. Engine quit due to fuel exhaustion. Autorotated to ocean landing. Float ruptured. Helicopter sank.

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.