Bell 206L-3 N227H

Summary

On 4 March 2002 at about 18:35 local time, a Bell 206L-3 registered N227H, operated by Action Helicopter Service, was involved in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 March 2002 at 18:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

36.1161, -96.0258

Aircraft

Bell 206L-3

Registration

N227H

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Action Helicopter Service

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tulsa → Tulsa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02LA089

Nobody was injured.

the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The local flight was en route to the company helipad for fuel when the engine lost power approximately 300 yards short of the helipad. During an autorotation to a road, the pilot had to execute an evasive maneuver to avoid a vehicle. Subsequently, at 10 feet agl, the main rotor blades struck 1.5 inch-diameter tree branches. The main rotor RPM decreased, the helicopter landed hard on the road, and the main rotor blades contacted and severed the tail boom. The pilot estimated 300 pounds of fuel was on board at the time of the accident. During the inspection of the helicopter, the engine was started and test run to idle speed, and no anomalies were noted. The fuel nozzle and fuel filters were inspected, and no anomalies were noted. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.