On August 3, 1987, a Bell 206B (registration N5001Q) operated by Donald Ambabo was involved in an aviation accident near Albuquerque, NM. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During cruise, a partial power failure required an emergency autorotative landing to an uneven dirt area. After touchdown, the aircraft slid and the tail rose, causing the main rotor to contact the tail boom, severing the last three feet. No injuries occurred, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Incident Overview
During cruise flight, a partial power failure occurred, necessitating an emergency autorotative landing to an uneven dirt area. Upon touchdown, the aircraft slid forward, causing the tail to rise. This resulted in the main rotor contacting the tail boom, severing the last three feet of the tail boom.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. There were no injuries reported.
Power Loss Cause
The power loss was attributed to a separation of the engine governor PYV valve, which caused the engine to decelerate to a below-idle condition. No determination could be made regarding the cause of the valve separation.