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NTSB Report

August 24, 2004 · Bell 206B3 · N107PH

Panama City, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 24, 2004
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Panama City, FL
Aircraft
Bell 206B3
Tail Number
N107PH
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA04LA123

The pilot stated he flew out from Panama City-Bay County International Airport to survey a boat located on Deer Point Lake, approximately 8 miles northeast of the airport. With an altitude of about 50 feet and a forward airspeed around 35 to 40 mph he entered a circling maneuver. While flying upwind he reduced engine RPM, and as he turned downwind, he pulled up on the collective, but felt the helicopter sinking instead of climbing. He then looked at the engine instruments and saw the rotor RPM going below 85%. Immediately, he pushed the collective down, but was unable to regain RPM. He deployed emergency floats about 10 feet above the water. The helicopter hit the water "hard" in about 4 feet of water and then rolled onto its right side, due to the right flotation bag being torn off upon impacting the water. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated, upon inspection of the helicopter, after recovery, it was found that a pneumatic tubing line had backed off the governor and caused the engine to go to minimum RPM. The governor was last installed 500 hours before the accident and showed signs of a torque seal on the B-nut. The pneumatic line that backed off the fitting is located on the backside of the governor and is hard to see and check for proper torque during routine maintenance.

NTSB Probable Cause

Inadequate maintenance inspection resulting in the partial loss of engine power due to a loose pneumatic line on the governor and ditching of the helicopter.

Full Narrative

On August 24, 2004, about 1720 central daylight time, a Bell 206B, N107PH, registered to and operated by Heliworks Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 135 on demand air taxi flight, crashed into Deer Point Lake, Panama City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot and two passengers received no injuries, and the helicopter incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Panama City-Bay County International Airport, Panama City, Florida, earlier that day, about 1700. The pilot stated he flew out from Panama City-Bay County International Airport to survey a boat located on Deer Point Lake, approximately 8 miles northeast of the airport. With an altitude of about 50 feet and a forward airspeed around 35 to 40 mph he entered a circling maneuver. While flying upwind he reduced engine RPM, and as he turned downwind, he pulled up on the collective, but felt the helicopter sinking instead of climbing. He then looked at the engine instruments and saw the rotor RPM going below 85%. Immediately, he pushed the collective down, but was unable to regain RPM. He deployed emergency floats about 10 feet above the water. The helicopter hit the water "hard" in about 4 feet of water and then rolled onto its right side, due to the right flotation bag being torn off upon impacting the water. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated, upon inspection of the helicopter, after recovery, it was found that a pneumatic tubing line had backed off the governor and caused the engine to go to minimum RPM. The governor was last installed 500 hours before the accident and showed signs of a torque seal on the B-nut. He stated the pneumatic line that backed off the fitting is located on the backside of the governor and is hard to see and check for proper torque during routine maintenance. The following are excerpts taken from Rolls-Royce 250-C20 series Operation and Maintenance list of Warnings: Proper tightening of engine tubing is critical to flight safety. Correct torque values must be used at all times. Excessive torque on pneumatic sensing system connections results in cracking of the flare or adjacent tube area in contact with the ferrule. This produces an air leak, which can cause engine flame out, power loss, or overspeed. Tubing B-nuts used in installations exposed to a high degree of vibration and pressure surges are subject to torque relaxation when improperly tightened. Air leaks in the fuel system or the pneumatic sensing system can cause flameouts, power loss, or overspeed.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:20 CDT
Nearest AirportPanama City Bay County Interna (3nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B3
Tail NumberN107PH
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsRolls-Royce · C250-20B · Turboshaft · 420
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 64 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 10 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:38
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data