What happened
On September 19, 2000, at approximately 10:45 local time, a Bell B-206-L1 helicopter, registration EC-EES, was conducting a commercial general aviation flight for film location scouting between the provinces of Jaén and Valencia. The aircraft had departed from Cuatro Vientos airport earlier that morning with a crew of one and four passengers.
While cruising between the towns of Los Yébenes and Consuegra in Toledo, the pilot heard an unusual noise and increased altitude to approximately 1,000 feet as a precaution. Shortly after, a second screeching noise was heard, prompting the pilot to prepare for an approach to level ground. At an altitude of approximately 40 and 400 feet, the engine suffered a complete failure. The pilot immediately entered an autorotation, performing a vertical landing on a ploughed field to avoid the uneven terrain of a nearby track. The aircraft sustained damage to the engine, one main rotor blade, and the tail cone structure. All five occupants remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's statements, maintenance records, and the physical condition of the engine. Maintenance documentation indicated that the aircraft had been serviced by an Authorized Maintenance Center according to the required schedules, with no irregularities found in the logs.
Post-accident inspections of the engine revealed extensive internal deterioration. Significant findings included damage to various bearings (including seized and broken bearing cages), cracks in the combustion chamber liner, and cracks and material loss on the compressor stator. Additionally, several components, such as turbine wheels, oil pipes, and various gears, showed signs of excessive wear, scoring, or unauthorized modifications. The inspection also noted cracks in the first turbine distributor blades and deformations in the firewalls.
Findings
- The engine failure was preceded by audible warnings in the form of unusual noises and screeching.
- The engine was in a state of extreme internal deterioration, with numerous components requiring immediate replacement due to wear, cracks, or seizure.
- Extensive damage was found across multiple engine subsystems, including the compressor, turbine, and bearing assemblies.
- Due to the high level of degradation found throughout the engine components, the specific trigger for the engine failure could not be determined.