Bell 206 N206LW

Summary

On 30 July 2016 at about 11:40 local time, a Bell 206 registered N206LW was involved in an accident near Modesto, California, United States. 2 people were 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

30 July 2016 at 11:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Modesto, California, United States

Nearest airport

Modesto City-Co-Harry Sham Fld (MOD)

Coordinates

37.6242, -120.9494

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N206LW

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Modesto → Modesto

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

GAA16CA408

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during an autorotation, which resulted in abnormal ground contact and main rotor contact with the tail boom. Contributing to the accident was the low fuel level which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power during the right turn to final.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot reported that after a lengthy search and rescue mission he was headed back to the airport when the low fuel light illuminated, which meant there was about 10 minutes of fuel remaining. The pilot further reported that during the approach to land he made a right turn to final and the engine "flamed out". Subsequently, the pilot performed an emergency autorotation which resulted in abnormal ground contact and main rotor contact with the tail boom. After the landing, the passenger examined the helicopter and revealed that the tail boom sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that prior to the loss of engine power, there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The loss of engine power reported by the pilot was likely the result of fuel starvation during the right turn to final. The pilot reported that the fuel level was not checked after the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.