Bell 206B N33EA

Summary

On 20 June 1993 at about 02:30 local time, a Bell 206B registered N33EA, operated by Burney, RAY E., was involved in an accident near Harlem, Montana, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 June 1993 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Harlem, Montana, United States

Coordinates

48.4900, -108.6502

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N33EA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Burney, RAY E.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

SEA93LA135

1 person had minor injuries.

THE IMPROPER REFUELING SYSTEM PROCEDURES WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO CONTAMINATE THE AIRCRAFT FUEL AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS FUELED WITH THE LAST 25 GALLONS OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL TRUCK AND THEN DEPARTED ON A SPRAY DISPERSAL FLIGHT. AT APPROXIMATELY 8 FEET AGL AND 60-70 MPH DURING A SWATH RUN, THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPPED AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A 'QUICK STOP' DURING WHICH THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. POST CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE LOW POINT DRAIN FUEL SAMPLE TAKEN FROM THE FUEL TRUCK. A FUEL SAMPLE TAKEN FROM THE PRESSURE SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER'S AIRFRAME FUEL FILTER SYSTEM REVEALED APPROXIMATELY 20 PERCENT WATER. WHEN THE HELICOPTER'S FUEL TANK WAS DEFUELED, THE OWNER RETRIEVED APPROXIMATELY 2.5 GALLONS OF WATER OUT OF A 40 GALLON QUANTITY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.