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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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January 17, 1982 · Bell 206B · N203AL

Centerville, AL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 17, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Centerville, AL
Aircraft
Bell 206B
Tail Number
N203AL
Operator
Air Logistics
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL82DA036

The mishap occurred during a practice hover with a 100 ft cable in preparation for an external load operation. While hovering about 100 ft AGL, the fuel boost pump light illuminated and the boost pump pressure dropped to zero. A descent was started; however, while still at about 100 ft AGL, the engine lost all power. The pilot entered an autorotation, but the aircraft landed hard. The pilot noted frost on the fuel cap that was not present during the preflight inspection. Also, a small amount of ice was observed floating in the fuel about 45 minutes after the accident. During a subsequent examination of the engine and aircraft, water was found in the fuel tank, airframe fuel filter, engine fuel pump filter and high pressure fuel filter. The fuel supply line from the high pressure fuel filter to the fuel control was empty. Anti-ice fuel additive was not required in the fuel, since this Bell 206B was equipped with an airframe fuel filter. The source of water/ice could not be determined. Temperature minus 1 deg F.

Full Narrative

THE MISHAP OCCURRED DURING A PRACTICE HOVER WITH A 100 FT CABLE IN PREPARATION FOR AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION. WHILE HOVERING ABOUT 100 FT AGL, THE FUEL BOOST PUMP LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BOOST PUMP PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. A DESCENT WAS STARTED; HOWEVER, WHILE STILL AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION, BUT THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD. THE PILOT NOTED FROST ON THE FUEL CAP THAT WAS NOT PRESENT DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. ALSO, A SMALL AMOUNT OF ICE WAS OBSERVED FLOATING IN THE FUEL ABOUT 45 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT. DURING A SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND AIRCRAFT, WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK, AIRFRAME FUEL FILTER, ENGINE FUEL PUMP FILTER AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL FILTER. THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE FROM THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL FILTER TO THE FUEL CONTROL WAS EMPTY. ANTI-ICE FUEL ADDITIVE WAS NOT REQUIRED IN THE FUEL, SINCE THIS BELL 206B WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AIRFRAME FUEL FILTER. THE SOURCE OF WATER/ICE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. TEMPERATURE MINUS 1 DEG F.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B
Tail NumberN203AL
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAir Logistics
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250C-20B · Turboshaft · 317
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 34 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind315° @ 5 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point34 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data