Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Glenns Ferry, Idaho 83623
Thursday, August 22, 1996 13:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While in cruise flight, the helicopter experienced a yawing tendency, vibration, and loss of engine power. The pilot said that he closed the throttle and initiated an autorotation. The helicopter then nosed down, and the pilot pulled back on the cyclic. The auto relight cockpit warning light illuminated, and the pilot increased the throttle to full power. The helicopter began to yaw again, and the pilot closed the throttle; however, the helicopter nosed down. The pilot increased throttle control and raised the collective to regain level flight as the helicopter landed hard and rolled over. The engine and airframe were inspected and no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found. Fuel drained from the helicopter was found to be dark gray in color, and it contained very fine suspended particulate matter. Inspection of the fuel truck revealed that the filters and the fuel drained from the sump contained heavy contamination. Analysis of the fuel from the helicopter and from the fuel truck revealed the presence of water and fungi.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

fuel contamination, due to improper servicing of the helicopter, which resulted in an intermittent loss of engine power. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's inadequate control of the helicopter, during autorotation with intermittent engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/22/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City GLENNS FERRY
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83623
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1356 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 107
Weather Observation Facility ID TWF
Elevation of weather observation facility 4151
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 44
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1510
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 22 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1333
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:18AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3896V
NTSB Number SEA96LA198
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B
Aircraft Serial Number 3196
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Aug 15 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 5769
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FARM DEVELOPMENT
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1201
Aircraft Owner City BOISE
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name IDAHO HELICOPTERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2471 COMMERCE AVE.
Operator City BOISE
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83715
Operator Code GAKA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --