NTSB Identification: CEN12LA141
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Sunday, January 22, 2012 in Irving, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/20/2012
Aircraft: BELL 206B, registration: N555NB
Injuries: 4 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
During the landing sequence to the landing zone, the helicopter’s fuel light illuminated and the engine lost power. The pilot performed an autorotation to flat terrain at a golf course. During the forced landing, the helicopter impacted the level terrain and came to rest about 10 feet from the initial impact point. An on-scene examination of the fuel system revealed no evidence of fuel and the fuel gauge read empty. Less than a half gallon of fuel was recovered and there was no evidence of fuel contamination. An examination of the remaining systems revealed no anomalies. The pilot stated that he mismanaged his fuel and that the tailwind component was less than forecast.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning.
On January 22, 2012, approximately 1540 central standard time, a Bell 206B, N555NB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to the Las Colinas Golf Course, Irving, Texas. The airline transport pilot and three passengers were not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Longhorn Helicopters Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 without a flight plan. The flight originated from Waco, Texas, at 1500, and was en route to the Las Colinas Four Seasons Resort, Irving, Texas.
During the landing sequence to the Las Colinas Four Seasons Resort, the fuel light illuminated and the engine lost power. The pilot performed an autorotation to flat terrain at the Las Colinas Golf Course. During the forced landing, the helicopter impacted level terrain and came to rest approximately ten feet from the initial impact point. The tail stinger impacted the ground and the vertical fin was bent. The tail boom was bent adjacent to the airframe mount.
An on scene examination of the fuel system, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, revealed no evidence of fuel and the fuel gauge read empty. An examination of the engine compartment revealed no anomalies. The helicopter was moved from the golf course and the fuel system was sumped. Less than a half gallon of fuel was recovered and there was no evidence of fuel contamination. An examination of the remaining systems revealed no anomalies.
The pilot reported that he departed with 35 gallons of fuel and had estimated that he would have 25 minutes of fuel remaining when he arrived at the destination. He stated that he mismanaged his fuel and the tailwind component was less than forecast.
IRVING — A helicopter made a hard landing Sunday afternoon at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving.
Investigators were trying to determine whether high wind was a factor in the mishap.
The tail boom of the 1977 Bell 206B JetRanger helicopter appeared to be bent at an unusual angle, and the impromptu landing spot on a fairway near the 4400 block of North O'Connor Road was surrounded by yellow police tape.
No one was hurt.
The aircraft is registered to Lana Air LLC of Mead, Oklahoma.
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