Eurocopter EC 130 B4 N133GC

Summary

On 1 January 2014 at about 23:07 local time, a Eurocopter EC 130 B4 registered N133GC, operated by Papillon Airways Inc., was involved in an accident near Boulder City, Nevada, 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

1 January 2014 at 23:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Boulder City, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Boulder City Muni (BVU)

Coordinates

35.9469, -114.8600

Aircraft

Eurocopter EC 130 B4

Registration

N133GC

Category

Helicopter

Operator

Papillon Airways Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boulder City → Boulder City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14LA084

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the noncertificated maintenance technician’s failure to properly tighten and safety wire a B-nut fitting. Contributing to the accident was the maintenance technician’s failure to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance manual instructions. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that, during a postmaintenance operational check flight and while on final approach for landing, the fuel pressure indicator light illuminated, and the engine "flamed out." The pilot lowered the collective to initiate an autorotation; however, due to the low altitude and airspeed, the helicopter subsequently landed hard and rolled over. During a postaccident examination of the wreckage, a main fuel supply line B-nut fitting was found without the safety wire, and the nut was loose when turned by hand. Before the accident flight, the line had been disconnected during a task to replace the bidirectional suspension cross-bar assembly, and the accident flight was the first flight since the task was performed. According to the noncertificated maintenance technician who performed the task, the line was removed to defuel the fuel tank, which was contrary to manufacturer's maintenance manual instructions. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the B-nut fitting was not properly tightened and safety-wired during reassembly, which allowed it to back off due to normal engine vibration and resulted in the interruption of the fuel flow during flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.