ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 33371
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| Date: | Tuesday 4 August 1998 |
| Time: | 08:45 LT |
| Type: |  Bell 206B-3 JetRanger III |
| Owner/operator: | Rainbow Helicopters |
| Registration: | N5016G |
| MSN: | 2624 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1979 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5788 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Lucerne Valley, California -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Riverside, CA (KRAL) |
| Flagstaff, AZ (KFLG) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot had been flying for about 25 minutes when he noticed that the oil pressure gauge and torque gauge were fluctuating. He initiated an approach to a precautionary landing spot on an asphalt pad. About 150 feet agl, the engine quit and the pilot autorotated to touch down on a paved road. The main rotor blades severed the tail boom aft of the horizontal stabilizer. The engine had received some maintenance work and had been reinstalled in the helicopter the night before the accident, at which time the pilot performed a test run and leak check of the engine, with no noted discrepancies. The pilot further stated that the engine had been running normally until the fluctuation of the oil pressure and torque gauges. During an examination of the engine, the oil output line was connected, but loose, and oil was seen dripping from the fitting area. Oil was observed over most of the fuselage and underneath the engine. There was approximately 1 pint of oil found in the sump. Further teardown of the engine revealed that the number 8 bearing was destroyed and no oil was found throughout the lubrication system. The Bell Helicopter maintenance manual specifies a torque value for the fitting on the oil output line; however, the mechanic who installed the engine reported that he did not use a torque wrench to tighten the line because he would have had to remove some other lines to get to it and he was in a hurry.
Probable Cause: The failure of the mechanic who installed the engine to follow proper procedures by insuring the proper torque to the oil output line, resulting in a loose fitting, oil loss and subsequent bearing failure.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX98LA256
FAA register: 2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=5016G
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 08-Apr-2015 20:20 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 08-Apr-2015 20:28 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 06-Apr-2024 17:04 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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