# NTSB MKC90LA021: Bell 206L-3, N3174S, Saint Paul, MN, November 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 2, 1989, 04:36 local (10:36 UTC)
- Place: Saint Paul, MN
- Coordinates: 44.950374, -93.089355 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9504&lon=-93.0894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34904
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC90LA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34904/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90LA021

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SVC (EMS/MEDEVAC) FLT, THE PLT ENCTRD STRONGER HEADWINDS THAN EXPECTED. AFTER DELIVERING A PATIENT, HE ESTIMATED 12 MIN OF FUEL WAS REMAINING. SINCE THE FLT TO HIS HOME BASE WOULD TAKE ABOUT 6 MIN, HE ELECTED TO RETURN WITHOUT REFUELING. WHILE ARRIVING ABEAM OF HIS DESTN, A FUEL BOOST PUMP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PLT SAID HE EXPEDITED HIS APCH, BUT AT ABOUT 50' AGL, A 2ND BOOST PUMP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ENG THEN LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER WAS DAMAGED DRG AN EMERGENCY AUTOROTATION (AT NIGHT).

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3174S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 51036
- Airframe hours: 3207
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C30B 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Air Methods, Inc., doing business as Life Link 3
- Registered owner: Air Methods Corp International
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 21, 1989, 13 hours before
- Departed: MY65, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: STP, Holman Fld, runway 27, 3,642 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 4,436 total, 1,435 in this make and model, 4,063 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSP, 6 nm away

## 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 19891102044389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891102044389A), Nov 2, 1989: Bell 206L3, St Paul, MN, Substantial damage. Departed with 5 minutes margin of fuel for short flight ran out on approach to land. Landed roughly,slid 30 feet.

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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