N106TV

Substantial
None

BELL 206BS/N: 2783

Accident Details

Date
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
NTSB Number
WPR12CA236
Location
Burbank, WA
Event ID
20120530X22833
Coordinates
46.207778, -118.956947
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The failure of maintenance personnel to properly torque an air tube fitting, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N106TV
Make
BELL
Serial Number
2783
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Year Built
1979
Model / ICAO
206BB06
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SAN JUAN AVIATION LLC
Address
C/O CTC
1209 N ORANGE ST
Status
Deregistered
City
WILMINGTON
State / Zip Code
DE 19801-1120
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot stated that as he was flying low over the apple orchard and rolled out of a turn, the engine began to lose power, which was accompanied by the engine out horn and light. He decreased his airspeed towards zero, and performed a hovering autorotation into the orchard. During the landing the rotor blades impacted the trees and the tail boom separated from the main fuselage. An examination of the engine revealed that Pc air tube that connects the Pc air filter to to the Power Turbine Governor (PTG) was disconnected. The b-nut that connects the tube to the Pc air filter was present on the tube but not threaded onto the Pc air filter boss. Review of the maintenance records showed that about 6 hours prior to the accident the turbine assembly and bleed valve had been replaced. The threads on both the Pc air filter and b-nut did not exhibit any damage or abnormalities. The removal and reinstallation of the Pc air tube was conducted as part of the documented maintenance. According to the engine manufacturer's technical representative, the disconnection of the Pc air tube during engine operation would result in a loss of engine power.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR12CA236