Bell 206L-1 N22HU

Summary

On 27 August 1987 at about 23:58 local time, a Bell 206L-1 registered N22HU was involved in an accident near Covelo, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

27 August 1987 at 23:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Covelo, California, United States

Coordinates

39.8198, -123.1608

Aircraft

Bell 206L-1

Registration

N22HU

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX87FA318

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT PERFORMED A VERTICAL TAKEOFF. AT APRX 30 FT AGL, WHILE TRANSITIONING TO FORWARD FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT PARTIALLY LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD ON SLOPING TERRAIN AND BOUNCED LATERALLY TO THE RIGHT COLLIDING WITH TREES. DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION THE HELICOPTER WAS DEFUELED. APRX 14.6 GALS OF FUEL WERE DRAINED FROM THE REAR MAIN FUEL CELL AND APRX 4.7 GALS WERE DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TANK. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED CONTAMINATION OF THE RIGHT AND LEFT IN-LINE FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLIES (PART NO. 206-063-001). THE CONTAMINATION WAS IDENTIFIED AS DIRT, PAINT CHIPS, LINT TYPE FUZZ, AND METAL SHAVINGS. ACCORDING TO BELL HELICOPTER THE FUEL TRANSFER SYSTEM CAN BE RENDERED INOPERATIVE BY CONTAMINANTS RESULTING IN ENGINE FLAMEOUTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.