Bell 206L-1 N911ME

Summary

On 20 November 1993 at about 01:39 local time, a Bell 206L-1 registered N911ME, operated by Echo Helicopter Inc., was involved in an accident near Portland, Maine, United States. 4 people were on board and 3 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 November 1993 at 01:39

Classification

Accident

Location

Portland, Maine, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 206L-1

Registration

N911ME

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Echo Helicopter Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ellsworth → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

BFO94FA013

3 people died.

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT ADEQUATE FUEL WAS AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE WEATHER, THE DARK NIGHT AND THE ROUGH SEA CONDITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD DEPARTED PORTLAND EARLIER WITH 2 HR 45 MIN OF FUEL TO PICK UP THE PATIENT AT ELLSWORTH. HE STATED THAT HIS TOTAL CAPACITY WAS ABOUT 57O LBS, AND THE FUEL BURN FOR THE HELICOPTER WAS 200-220 LBS/HR. HE SAID THE 97 NM FLIGHT IS NORMALLY COMPLETED UNDER 1 HR, BUT TOOK 1 HR 10 MIN DUE TO WINDS. HE THEN DEPARTED ELLSWORTH WITH 310 LBS OF FUEL FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT. DURING THE RETURN FLIGHT TO PORTLAND HE ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND A 'SUBSTANTTIAL HEAD WIND OF 40 TO 60 KNOTS.' WHILE BEING VECTORED INTO PORTLAND THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE HELICOPTER DITCHED IN THE OCEAN IN ROUGH SEAS 7 MI EAST OF THE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY OPERATIONS MANUAL FOR EMS PROCEDURES, IT STATES IN PART, 'THE MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE WEATHER IS IN VFR CONDITIONS...'.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.