Eurocopter AS-350-B2 N99TV
8 September 1994 · Cascade, Colorado, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 8 September 1994 at about 16:43 local time, a Eurocopter AS-350-B2 registered N99TV was involved in an accident near Cascade, Colorado, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:43
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Cascade, Colorado, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.8998, -104.9697
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS-350-B2
- Registration
- N99TV
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Denver
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW94FA293
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Probable cause
A POWER LOSS DUE TO CONTAMINATED FUEL FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE THAT CLOGGED THE FUEL FILTER AND INTERNALLY DAMAGED THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT. A FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM ATOP PIKES PEAK, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT AUTOROTATED STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES AND ROLLED OVER. FUEL SAMPLES CONTAINED VISIBLE CONTAMINANTS AND THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT (FCU) WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN TARGET FUEL FLOW DURING POST ACCIDENT TESTING. THE CONTAMINANTS WERE IDENTIFIED AS FILTER MATERIAL AND PARTICLES OF METAL, GLASS, SAND, AND PLASTIC. METALLIC PARTICLES WERE IDENTIFIED AS BEING COPPER, IRON, NICKEL, AND CHROMIUM. FCU DISASSEMBLY REVEALED A CLOGGED AMPLIFIER PISTON FILTER, A SCORED ISOCHRONOUS PISTON, AND A COLLAPSED TEMPERATURE COMPENSATOR. ACCORDING TO THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER, THE FUEL CONTAMINANTS COULD DISTURB FCU OPERATION AND THE SCORED PISTON WAS 'EVIDENCE OF AN OPERATION WITH POLLUTED FUEL.' THE SOURCE OF CONTAMINANTS WAS NOT DETERMINED. NO REPORTS OF FUEL CONTAMINATION WERE RECEIVED FROM OTHER PILOTS USING THE SAME FUEL VENDOR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Eurocopter AS-350 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1995 | Eurocopter AS-350-B | Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 25 Jun 1998 | Eurocopter AS-350-BA | Mt. Waialeale, Hawaii, United States | - | Fatal | 6 |
| 17 Mar 1999 | Eurocopter AS-350-B2 | Girdwood, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Oct 1999 | Eurocopter AS-350-BA | Westbury, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 1999 | Eurocopter AS-350 | Islip, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 1999 | Eurocopter AS-350-B2 | Eugene Is. 193 | Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan 1994 | Bellanca 8KCAB-180 | Colo. Springs, Colorado, United States | Aerotech Flight Services | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Jan 1994 | Cessna 195 | Watkins, Colorado, United States | Hoghland, Vohs, and Murphy | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1994 | Bell 206L-3 | Cascade, Colorado, United States | Puget Sound Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 1 Feb 1994 | Cessna 182P | Meeker, Colorado, United States | Steamboat Flight Academy, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 1 Mar 1994 | Cessna 177RG | Longmont, Colorado, United States | Debruzzi, Michael S. | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 1994 | Rockwell 690C | Hayden, Colorado, United States | Casper Air Service | No injuries | - |