On 23 Jun 2010, a BELL 206B operated by Applebee Aviation Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Rickreall, OR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine lost all power because the pilot failed to ensure there was enough fuel on board for the flight, leading to fuel exhaustion. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A Bell 206B helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power during an agricultural flight due to fuel exhaustion.
What happened
On June 23, 2010, a Bell 206B helicopter, operating as N3194G, was performing an aerial application flight near Rickreall, Oregon. During the mission, the engine lost power. The pilot reported that the aircraft was operating under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with visibility of 10 statute miles at the time of the event. There were no injuries resulting from the accident.
The investigation
The pilot stated that there were no mechanical abnormalities present in the engine or the airframe prior to the loss of power. Because the helicopter was being disassembled before the NTSB or the FAA could be notified, the aircraft's fuel system was not inspected by investigators.
Probable cause
The engine lost all power because the pilot failed to ensure there was enough fuel on board for the flight, leading to fuel exhaustion.