Aerospatiale SA-315 N5770F

Summary

On 14 July 2007 at about 19:30 local time, a Aerospatiale SA-315 registered N5770F, operated by Skydance Operations Inc, was involved in an accident near Stuart, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 July 2007 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Stuart, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

34.9028, -96.0778

Aircraft

Aerospatiale SA-315

Registration

N5770F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Skydance Operations Inc

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stuart → Stuart

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW07LA162

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power due to a clogged fuel tube. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter experienced a loss of engine power while hovering out of ground effect while performing external load operations. While moving a heavy load , the helicopter's fuel light was reported to have flickered. The company's mechanic drained the tank, purged the fuel lines, and replaced the fuel filter. The helicopter was then filled with "clean fuel" and test flown for approximately 30-minutes; with no problems noted. After moving 2 or 3 more loads, and while repositioning the next load, the pilot "felt the engine surge slightly". All engine instruments appeared to be in the normal range and the pilot elected to continue to move the external load. The engine then "cut back to ground idle' and the helicopter descended through the trees. The engine was removed from the airframe, and shipped to an engine overhaul facility for further investigation. An initial examination of the engine did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. The engine was placed in a test cell for a full run-up. Two engine starts were attempted; however, the engine failed to start. After the first attempt, the idling device strainer was found clogged and was replaced. The engine was disassembled after the second failed attempt and the examination revealed that the fuel tube was clogged, and fuel was not getting to the fuel injection wheel in the engine. Fuel samples taken at the accident scene and at the engine examination, failed to find containments in the fuel. A lab test of the substance that was found in the fuel tube, failed to identify the foreign substance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.