On December 27, 1983, a Bell 206B III (registration N206JH) operated by Idaho Helicopters was involved in an aviation accident near Mountain City, NV. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A Bell 206B helicopter collided with snow-covered terrain after its engine failed while patrolling power lines at about 30 feet AGL. The pilot reported light snow and 1/2-mile visibility. Investigation found air in the fuel system.
Accident Overview
A Bell 206B helicopter collided with snow-covered ground after its engine quit during a power-line patrol at an altitude of about 30 feet above ground level. The pilot reported that visibility was 1/2 mile with light snow falling and that he could see 4 to 7 of the supporting structures, which are spaced approximately 350 feet apart. The total distance for seven poles is less than 1/2 mile.
Operational Context
The Bell 206B flight manual states that operations are permitted in falling snow when visibility is in excess of 1/2 mile, but flight duration is limited to 1 and 1/2 hours.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident examination of the engine revealed that when the top plug of the fuel pump filter was loosened, a sound of escaping air was noted. It was also found that on the day of the accident, the forward fuel boost pump had been replaced with a new IC-38-L type pump, which had been signed off as having been checked for pressure and bled.