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December 27, 1983 · Bell 206B III · N206JH

Mountain City, NV

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 27, 1983
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Location
Mountain City, NV
Aircraft
Bell 206B III
Tail Number
N206JH
Operator
Idaho Helicopters
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX84LA117

The helicopter collided with the snow-covered ground after the engine quit during a power-line patrol at about 30 ft AGL. The pilot reported that the visibility was 1/2 mile with light snow falling. He also said he could see 4 to 7 of the supporting structures. These poles are spaced about 350 ft apart so seven poles total less than 1/2 mile. The Bell 206BFLT manual states that 'operations are permitted in falling snow when visibility is in excess of 1/2 mile, but flight duration is limited to 1 and 1/2 hours.' Investigation of the engine after the accident revealed that when the top plug of the fuel pump filter was loosened, the sound of escaping air was noted. Investigation also revealed that on the day of the accident the forward fuel boost pump had been replaced with a new IC-38-L type pump which had been signed off as having been checked for pressure and bled.

Full Narrative

THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE SNOW COVERED GROUND AFTER THE ENG QUIT DURING A POWER-LINE PATROL AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS 1/2 MILE WITH LIGHT SNOW FALLING. HE ALSO SAID HE COULD SEE 4 TO 7 OF THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURES. THESE POLES ARE SPACED ABOUT 350 FT APART SO SEVEN POLES TOTALS LESS THAN 1/2 MILE. THE BELL 206BFLT MANUAL STATES THAT 'OPERATIONS ARE PERMITTED IN FALLING SNOW WHEN VISIBILITY IS IN EXCESS OF 1/2 MILE, BUT FLT DURATION IS LIMITED TO 1 AND 1/2 HOURS.' INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT WHEN THE TOP PLUG OF THE FUEL PUMP FILTER WAS LOOSENED, THE SOUND OF ESCAPING AIR WAS NOTED. INVESTIGATION ALSO REVEALED THAT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT THE FORWARD FUEL BOOST PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW IC-38-L TYPE PUMP WHICH HAD BEEN SIGNED OFF AS HAVING BEEN CHECKED FOR PRESSURE AND BLED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:00 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B III
Tail NumberN206JH
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorIdaho Helicopters
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 317
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 52 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 5 kt, gusting 5 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingOvercast 7000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data