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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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September 20, 1986 · Bell 206L-3 · N111GF

Atlantic Ocean, AO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
September 20, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (6 uninjured)
Location
Atlantic Ocean, AO
Aircraft
Bell 206L-3
Tail Number
N111GF
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
MIA86IA250

THE HELICOPTER DITCHED IN THE OCEAN AFTER SUSTAINING A FLAMEOUT. AFTER THE HELICOPTER WAS TOWED ASHORE ON ITS FLOATS THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN AT LEAST 4 GALS OF FUEL. INFO CONTAINED IN HELICOPTER MANUAL REVEALED ALL FUEL WAS USABLE EXCEPT ABOUT 1 GAL; THEREFORE FUEL EXHASTION WAS NOT IN EVIDENCE. AN EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED FOREIGN MATTER. AN EXAM OF THE FUEL TRUCK THAT REFUELED THE HELICOPTER AND THE FUEL TANK STORAGE FARM WHERE TRUCK OBTAINED ITS FUEL REVEALED FOREIGN MATTER OF SIMILAR APPEARANCE. A LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF THE FUEL SAMPLES FROM THE HELICOPTER AND REFUELING SOURCE REVEALED THAT THEY WERE CHEMICALLY THE SAME.

Full Narrative

THE HELICOPTER DITCHED IN THE OCEAN AFTER SUSTAINING A FLAMEOUT. AFTER THE HELICOPTER WAS TOWED ASHORE ON ITS FLOATS THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN AT LEAST 4 GALS OF FUEL. INFO CONTAINED IN HELICOPTER MANUAL REVEALED ALL FUEL WAS USABLE EXCEPT ABOUT 1 GAL; THEREFORE FUEL EXHASTION WAS NOT IN EVIDENCE. AN EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED FOREIGN MATTER. AN EXAM OF THE FUEL TRUCK THAT REFUELED THE HELICOPTER AND THE FUEL TANK STORAGE FARM WHERE TRUCK OBTAINED ITS FUEL REVEALED FOREIGN MATTER OF SIMILAR APPEARANCE. A LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF THE FUEL SAMPLES FROM THE HELICOPTER AND REFUELING SOURCE REVEALED THAT THEY WERE CHEMICALLY THE SAME.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time19:03 UTC
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206L-3
Tail NumberN111GF
Aircraft CategoryHeli
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C28B · Turboshaft · 650
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (6 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured6
Total6
Crew 1Age 36 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 11 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2000 ft
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:05
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data