What happened
On August 12, 2016, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, registration TG-CHB, was conducting an aerial reconnaissance flight over a palm oil plantation at Finca El Arenal, located in the municipality of Sayaxché, Petén. The aircraft was operated by the plantation to survey cultivated areas. On board were the pilot and three passengers.
During the flight, the pilot reported a sudden loss of engine power followed by a total engine shutdown. The aircraft impacted the ground at the plantation site. While the pilot sustained minor injuries requiring hospital treatment, the three passengers were uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the DGAC/UIA examined the aircraft's maintenance history, the engine components, and the flight conditions. The investigation confirmed that the helicopter was properly certified, equipped, and maintained according to current regulations. The aircraft was within its weight and balance limits, as it was only carrying four occupants and no additional cargo. Meteorological conditions and visibility were found to be favorable and were not contributing factors to the accident.
Technical analysis of the engine was performed following disassembly and inspection of parts in Canada. This examination focused on the internal components of the power plant to determine the origin of the power loss.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a total engine failure.
- The failure was triggered by the failure of bearings 1 and 2.
- The bearing failure was caused by insufficient lubrication combined with material fatigue.
- High temperatures resulting from the lubrication issue led to the fracture of bearing No. 1.