Bell 204B CGKQH
12 September 1990 · Keller, Washington, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 12 September 1990 at about 00:46 local time, a Bell 204B registered CGKQH, operated by Cazn-Arc Helicopters, Ltd, was involved in an accident near Keller, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:46
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Keller, Washington, United States
- Coordinates
- 48.1008, -118.7105
- Aircraft
- Bell 204B
- Registration
- CGKQH
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Cazn-Arc Helicopters, Ltd
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Public Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA90GA180
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 204 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jan 1988 | Bell 204B | Stockton, Alabama, United States | Tensaw Helicopters, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 1988 | Bell 204B | Entiat, Washington, United States | Vancouver Island Helicopters | Fatal | 2 |
| 12 Aug 1992 | Bell 204B | Big Sur, California, United States | U.s. Forest Service | Unknown | - |
| 1 Oct 1993 | Bell 204-B | Cedar Crest, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 1987 | Bell 204B | Dubois, Wyoming, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 May 1993 | Bell 204B | Copper Harbor, Alaska, United States | Chester C. Rasberry | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jan 1990 | Cessna 177B | Friday Harbor, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Feb 1990 | Bell 206B | Winthrop, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Mar 1990 | Bell BH-47G3B2 | Des Moines, Washington, United States | Richard H. Butz | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1990 | Cessna 140 | Vancouver, Washington, United States | Bogar, Floyd | No injuries | - |
| 12 Mar 1990 | Cessna 150J | Graham, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Mar 1990 | Bell 206 | Cougar, Washington, United States | Bluebird Helicopter | No injuries | - |