- Date
- February 10, 2013, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Shandon, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N802KABell 206B
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20130210002419A
- Case key
- 86176
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 pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he intended to spray an agricultural field and was maneuvering in preparation for the first pass when the helicopter lost engine power. The pilot subsequently accomplished a forced landing to an open field. During the landing sequence, the helicopter’s main rotor blades flexed down and made contact with the tailboom, which resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom assembly. The pilot reported that after the landing he discovered the fuel selector valve in the off position. He reported that he had turned the fuel selector valve to the off position to drain the fuel sump during the preflight; however, he failed to re-open the valve after the preflight and prior to takeoff.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he intended to spray an agricultural field and was maneuvering in preparation for his first pass when the helicopter lost engine power. The pilot subsequently accomplished a forced landing to an open field. During the landing sequence, the helicopter’s main rotor blades flexed down and made contact with the tailboom, which resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom assembly. The pilot reported that after the landing he discovered the fuel selector valve in the off position. He reported that he had turned the fuel selector valve to the off position to drain the fuel sump during the preflight; however, failed to re-open the valve after the preflight and prior to takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N802KA
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1664
- Airframe hours
- 11,660
- Engine
- Rolls Royce C20, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Sycan Corp DBA
- Registered owner
- Sycan Corp DBA
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 12, 2012
- Departed
- Shandon, CA
- Destination
- Shandon, CA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 17, 2012
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 6,600 total · 2,160 in this make and model · 45 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 553 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.