Accident Overview
On August 10, 2013, at 1818 central daylight time, a Bell 206BA helicopter, registration N804LA, rolled over during a forced landing in a corn field following a loss of engine power. The accident occurred near Albers, Illinois. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and fuselage.
Flight Details
The helicopter was registered to and operated by N M Land LLC as a personal flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operating on a flight plan. The flight originated from private property in Albers, Illinois, just prior to the accident and was destined for Pevely, Missouri.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported performing a preflight inspection and pulling the helicopter out of the hangar with no anomalies noted. He added 50 gallons of Jet A fuel, bringing the total fuel on board to 75 gallons. He checked the weather, calculated weight and balance, and loaded the passengers. After starting the engine, he performed a 2-minute run-up procedure. He took off and departed to the north, leveling off at 600 feet above ground level. During a turn, the engine lost power. The pilot stated it seemed as though the throttle rolled back. He noticed a loss of N2 speed. The "engine out" horn sounded, and the "engine out" caution light illuminated. He located a corn field for landing, decreased the collective, and entered an auto-rotation. The helicopter settled into the corn field and rolled onto its left side during the landing. The tail boom was severed from the fuselage.
Fuel and Examination
The helicopter was fueled from an above-ground tank that belonged to the pilot's family. The tank was purchased in 2010 and filled with 2,000 gallons of Jet A fuel. The fuel added just before the accident was part of that original supply. Fuel samples were taken from the airframe fuel filter housing, fuel sump drain, and the above-ground storage tank. The storage tank and sump samples were clear of visible contaminants. The sample from the airframe fuel filter housing separated into two layers: the top layer appeared similar to Jet A fuel, and the bottom layer was opaque and brown. The filter housing was removed and drained; this sample also separated into two layers. Laboratory testing determined the upper organic layer consisted of a mixture of aliphatic, aromatic, and naphthenic hydrocarbons typical of aviation fuel. The lower layer consisted primarily of water plus a small amount of alcohol/ether. The postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no other anomalies besides the contaminated fuel in the airframe fuel filter housing.
Maintenance History
A 100/300-hour inspection on the helicopter was completed three days and 2.5 flight hours prior to the accident. According to maintenance records, the engine fuel filter and the airframe fuel filter were replaced during that inspection.