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.