McDonnell Douglas 500D N61PJ

Summary

On 27 October 2011 at about 21:40 local time, a McDonnell Douglas 500D registered N61PJ, operated by PJ Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Colusa, California, 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

27 October 2011 at 21:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Colusa, California, United States

Coordinates

39.1931, -122.1228

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas 500D

Registration

N61PJ

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

PJ Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colusa → Colusa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA022

1 person had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident severity was the operation of the helicopter within a portion of the height-velocity regime unfavorable for autorotation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was climbing and translating away from a power and communications line tower when the engine experienced a total loss of power. At that time, the helicopter was about 175 feet above ground level and had little forward airspeed, which placed it in the portion of the height-velocity regime unfavorable for autorotation. The helicopter began to descend rapidly, the pilot began an autorotation, and the helicopter subsequently landed hard in a field. During postaccident examination, manufacturer-specified vacuum leak checks could not determine the preimpact integrity of the fuel system due to impact damage and some initially undetected problems with the vacuum leak check equipment. About 30 gallons of fuel was found in the fuel tank, and it was free of water and other visible contaminants. Further, fuel from the fuel truck that supplied the helicopter was subsequently used in other aircraft without any problems. Detailed examinations of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical deficiencies or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.