HUNTINGTON BCH, CA, USA
N49643
BELL 206B
A BELL 206B COLLIDED WITH A BERM AFTER AN ENG FAILURE WHILE DEPARTING A HELIPAD. THE PLT INDICATED HE HAD JUST DEPARTED THE HELIPAD AT NIGHT AND AT APRX 50 FT AGL THE ENG FAILED. THE ACFT VERTICAL FIN HIT THE BERM CAUSING THE TAIL BOOM TO BEND AFT OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER INTO THE PATH OF THE MAIN ROTOR. THE MAIN ROTOR SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. THE ACFT ROTATED 90 DEG AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGED. A TEAR DOWN INSPECTION OF THE ENG WAS CONDUCTED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF MATERIAL FAILURE OR MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS FUEL FOUND IN THE FUEL CONTROL AND FUEL PUMP. EXAM OF THE FUEL PUMP FILTER AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL FILTER REVEALED NO CONTAMINANTS OR WATER IN THE SYSTEM. THE FUEL PUMP, GOVERNOR, AND FUEL CONTROL WERE EXAMINED AND BENCH TESTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS. ALL THREE COMPONENTS MET MANUFACTURERS PERFORMANCE CRITERIA.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
