TRENTON, NJ, USA
N16736
BELL 206L
THE PILOT AND TWO MECHANICS WERE ON A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT, OPERATING AT ABOUT 300 TO 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THEY HAD STARTED TO TRACK THE ROTOR BLADES AT 130 TO 140 MPH WHEN THEY FELT A SUDDEN LEFT YAW, AND THE 'ENGINE OUT' LIGHT AND AUDIO CAME ON. THE PILOT PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION INTO AN OPEN FIELD. WHEN THE TAILSKIDS TOUCHED DOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. THE ENGINE WAS RUN-UP SATISFACTORILY. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DISASSEMBLED AND INSPECTED; THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF CONTAMINATION OR OBSTRUCTION/BLOCKAGE. INVESTIGATORS DRAINED 10 GALLONS OF FUEL FROM THE HELICOPTER'S FUEL TANKS, INCLUDING ONE GALLON OF 'UNUSEABLE' FUEL. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THIS IS CONSIDERED A LOW LEVEL OF FUEL AND THE PILOT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLANNING TO LAND AS SOON AS PRACTICAL.
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION, AND THE PILOT'S POOR AIRCRAFT HANDLING DURING THE AUTOROTATION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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