Accident Overview
On July 21, 2022, at approximately 1500 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration N39MK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenton, Ohio. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The helicopter was being operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural flight.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot, before the flight the helicopter was filled with minimal fuel because of a heavy load of pesticide. He reported receiving about 8 to 10 gallons of Jet-A fuel and then flew to the crop field, a journey that took about 4 minutes. Upon beginning the aerial application on his first pass, the pilot noticed the engine rpm starting to drop. He did not have enough altitude to initiate an autorotation, and the helicopter descended and collided with the ground. The pilot stated that he did not know the total fuel quantity before the flight but noted that he used a 5-gallon mark as "our zero mark to ensure we have enough fuel."
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the helicopter after the accident. The fuselage and skids were found to be buckled. Examination of the fueling system revealed no anomalies with the fuel lines or fuel tank. The fuel tank cell was empty of fuel and had not been breached. The engine was also examined and showed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Fuel Consumption Analysis
Review of fuel flow chart excerpts for the Bell 206B indicated a general fuel consumption rate of about 25 gallons per hour. At that rate, the flight time with 8 to 10 gallons of fuel would be approximately 20 to 25 minutes.