MIAMI SHORES, FL, USA
N71FW
BELL 206-L-3
THE PLT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED GENERATOR FAILURE UPON DEPARTURE FROM KEY WEST & ELECTED TO CONTINUE HIS FLT TO OPA-LOCKA, FL, MAKING TWO STOPS ENROUTE. HE NOTED THAT HIS BATTERY WAS DEAD AFTER PASSING OCEAN REEF, LANDED AT WATSON ISLAND & THEN TOOK OFF ENROUTE TO OPA LOCKA WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER, AUTOROTATED TO A SEAWALL, LANDED HARD, COLLAPSED THE SKIDS & THE MAIN ROTOR SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. THE ENG WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACFT & PLACED IN A TEST CELL WHERE IT WAS RUN WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FORWARD FUEL TANK CHECK VALVE WAS LOOSE ALLOWING AIR TO BE SUCKED INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSING THE POWER LOSS EXPERIENCED BY THE PLT. THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES SECTION OF THE BELL 206 L-3 FLIGHT MANUAL STATES IF EITHER OF THE BOOST PUMPS FAIL OR THE GENERATOR FAILS YOU ARE TO LAND AS SOON AS PRACTICAL.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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