- Date
- September 11, 1990, 17:46 local (Sep 12, 1990, 00:46 UTC)
- Place
- Keller, WA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- CGKQHBell 204B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 2, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 41131
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The total loss of engine power due to turbine blade separation while the pilot was operating in the aircraft at a gross weight that exceeded performance specifications for existing meteorological conditions. Factors include the failure or inability to jettison the external load, the use of an improper cinch strap, and an improperly assembled and maintained wiring connector.
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 was conducting fire fighting multiple water drops using an external load 'bambi bucket'. Early that day the bucket's cinch strap had been replaced. On this drop the pilot radioed that he was heavy...3600 pounds. A puff of smoke was observed, and the helicopter crashed. Investigation revealed that a loss of power had occurred due to the loss of all 2nd turbine rotor blades, precipitated by a stress rupture failure of 3 consecutive blades induced by high operating temperatures. The cinch strap was bought at a hardware or sporting goods store - it was not that provided by the manufacturer. Disassembly of the bucket control head wiring assembly revealed evidence to support intermittent operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CGKQH
- Reported as
- Bell 204B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2006
- Airframe hours
- 18,980
- Engine
- Lycoming T53-11A, 1,100 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Operator
- Cazn-Arc Helicopters, Ltd
- Registered owner
- Can-Arc Helicopters Ltd
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 24, 1990 · 16 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 6,682 total · 1,900 in this make and model · 6,600 as pilot in command · 182 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 225° at 5 knots, gusting 9
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Observed at
- 1 nm away