1 fatal · Bell BHT-206L-1 · 1997-07-07 · HIGHLAND, CA, USA
Event
NTSB number
LAX97GA235
Event ID
20001208X08415
Type
Accident
Date
1997-07-07
Location
HIGHLAND, CA, USA
Coordinates
34.130203, -117.150726
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
1
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
1
Aircraft
Make
Bell
Model
BHT-206L-1
Registration
N27591
FAR Part
PUBU
Engines
1
Damage
DEST
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
Loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. Also causal was the ingestion of entrapped air that occurred during an abrupt maneuver and fuel-borne contamination that caused the fuel system check valves to leak, resulted in a lower than expected fuel level in the main fuel cell. A related factor was mountainous terrain.