# NTSB SEA93LA161: Bell B206BII, N502AH, Lake Powell, UT, July 26, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 1993, 06:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Lake Powell, UT - Coordinates: 37.570091, -110.319129 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5701&lon=-110.3191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41738 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41738/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA161 ## Probable cause A POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS INCLUDE LANDING IN WATER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT OF THE HELICOPTER WAS MAKING A LOW-LEVEL PASS OVER A JET SKI FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMMERCIAL FILMING WHEN HE INITIATED A RIGHT-HAND CLIMBING TURN. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER, AND THE PILOT FOUND IT NECESSARY TO EXECUTE AN AUTOROTATION INTO THE LAKE ON WHICH THE JET SKI WAS MANEUVERING. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE AND FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY PRE-IMPACT FAILURES OR ANOMALIES. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 1993, at approximately 0630 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Bell 206B helicopter, N502AH, ditched in Lake Powell after experiencing a power loss while maneuvering at low level over the water. The FAA certificated airline transport pilot and his two passengers were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The professional photographic flight, which departed Page Municipal Airport about 30 minutes earlier, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The aircraft was not on a filed flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT activation. The pilot, who was participating in the filming of a jet ski commercial, was maneuvering at low level in order to position the aircraft for proper filming. He passed by the left side of the jet ski at about 100 feet above the water, and then initiated a right hand climbing turn while at about 45 to 50 mph. The pilot said that as he started the turn, he checked his instruments, and everything was operating in the green with no warning lights illuminated. About three-quarters of the way around the turn, the pilot noticed that he did not feel any "power response" from the collective as he increased pitch in order to maintain his altitude. As the aircraft completed its 360 degree turn, it began descending toward the water, and the pilot realized that he had experienced a complete loss of power. He then maneuvered the aircraft into the wind, initiated an autorotation, and landed in the water in a level attitude. As the aircraft settled, the main rotor blades impacted the water, the nose pitched forward, and the aircraft sank in about 75 feet of water. A post-accident examination of the aircraft's engine and fuel control systems did not disclose any pre-impact malfunctions or anomalies that would have contributed to a power failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: N502AH (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELL B206BII - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 533 - Airframe hours: 16037 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Motion Video Productions - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 7, 1993, 55 hours before - Departed: PGA, PAGE, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 7,876 total, 1,212 in this make and model, 7,600 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 2 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19930726025659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930726025659A), Jul 26, 1993: Bell 206B, Lake Powell, UT, Substantial damage. Reported power loss on low speed pullup from filming jetski. Entered autorotation. Landed upright. Sank into lake. 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.