Casualties unknown

1985-10-23: Bell 206B (N376EH) — Era Helicopters, Inc. — Port O'conner, TX

Port O'conner, TX, US

On October 23, 1985, a Bell 206B (registration N376EH) operated by Era Helicopters, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Port O'conner, TX. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 10 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft rolled over after a forced landing due to a loss of about 60 percent of engine power during cruise at approximately 250 feet AGL. Post-accident inspection revealed that a fuel line B-nut had backed off.

Accident Summary

An aircraft experienced a loss of approximately 60 percent of engine power during cruise at an altitude of about 250 feet above ground level. The pilot executed a forced landing, after which the aircraft rolled over. The forced landing and subsequent rollover resulted from the power loss.

Investigation Findings

A post-accident inspection revealed that the fuel line part number 685481 B-nut had backed off from the fuel control end of line 250C20 IPC. This disconnection of the fuel line was identified as the source of the power loss.

Maintenance History

The last major engine maintenance performed on the aircraft was a turbine change on March 3, 1985. The last heavy inspection was conducted on October 11, 1985. The aircraft had accumulated 47.5 flight hours after that heavy inspection before the fuel line disconnection occurred.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X38037. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.