# NTSB MKC88IA025: Bell 206L-3, N86CH, Little Rock, AR, December 10, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 10, 1987, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Little Rock, AR
- Coordinates: 34.749053, -92.280143 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7491&lon=-92.2801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor; on the ground: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34650
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC88IA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34650/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88IA025

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, standing
  - oxygen system,portable - leak (cause)
  - fluid,oil - contamination (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate, other person (cause)
  - oxygen system,portable - fire

## Analysis

AN EMS HELO WAS CONSUMED IN A FIRE WHILE PARKED AT A HOSPITAL HELIPORT. THE HELO HAD RECENTLY RETURNED FM A MEDEVAC FLT AND THE ON-BOARD PATIENT OXYGEN PRESSURE WAS LOW. TWO RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS PARTICIPATED IN REFILLING THE SYSTEM AFTER THE FLT. THE SYSTEM IS SERVICED VIA A REAR BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT, ACCESSED FM OUTSIDE THE ACFT. THE ATTENDANTS INDICATED THAT AFTER THE CONNECTION WAS MADE AND THE VALVE WAS PARTIALLY OPENED, A FIRE ERUPTED NEAR THE CONNECTION. SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRE, ONE OF THE THERAPISTS REMEMBERED THE PRESENCE OF OIL ABV THE BAGGAGE DOOR. THIS AREA OF OIL WAS NOT WIPED CLEAN PRIOR TO COMMENCING THE FILL OPERATION. SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRE, THE VALVE WAS TESTED AND SIGNIFICANT LEAKING AT THE CONNECTION WAS PRESENT. AFTER THE TEST A WRENCH WAS NEEDED TO SEPARATE THE COMPONENTS FOR INSPN. THE INSPN PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE OF DEBRIS OR DISTORTIOON OF THE THREADED PORTION OF THE CONNECTION. THERE WAS NO INTENT FOR FLIGHT IN THIS PARTICULAR OPERATION AND NO FLT CREW WAS PRESENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N86CH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86CH-1988-05-19), registration cancelled 1988-05-19, S/N 51149 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3
- Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C30P 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Operator: Central Flying Service, doing business as [Ems]
- Registered owner: Central Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: Childrens Hosp Heliport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 19871210072449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871210072449A), Dec 10, 1987: Bell 206L3, Little Rock, AR, Destroyed. Fire erupted on the heliport pad while ground crew was refilling oxygen tanks onboard ambulance helicopter.

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.

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