Bell 206B N121RH

Summary

On 9 August 2006 at about 23:00 local time, a Bell 206B registered N121RH, operated by Magic Air Adventure, LLC, was involved in an accident near Orlando, Florida, United States. 5 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

9 August 2006 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Orlando, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.5533, -81.3439

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N121RH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Magic Air Adventure, LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kissimmee → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC06CA122

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to refuel the helicopter prior to the accident flight, which resulted in a loss of engine power during cruise flight, and a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport certificated pilot, with four passengers, departed on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, local area revenue sightseeing flight in a skid-equipped helicopter. According to the operator's chief pilot, the accident pilot reported that while in cruise flight, the fuel pump warning light illuminated, and he began a precautionary landing approach to a vacant parking lot. While on final approach to the parking lot, the pilot said the "engine flamed out." The pilot initiated an autorotation, but the helicopter landed hard. The helicopter's landing gear cross-tubes were deformed, the pilot's windscreen was broken, and the fuselage received structural damage. An FAA inspector reported that an examination of the helicopter revealed that it had flown 1.5 hours before the accident. The helicopter's fuel gauge, annunciator system, fuel pump, and fuel system, functioned normally. A pressure check of the fuel lines revealed no leakage. The inspector indicated that the fuel tank contained about 40 ounces of fuel. The inspector reported that during his examination of the helicopter, no mechanical malfunction was found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.