Accident Bell 206BIII N90194, Thursday 1 February 1996

You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.

Date:	Thursday 1 February 1996
Time:	13:40 LT
Type:	Bell 206BIII
Owner/operator:	Kenai Air Hawaii, Inc.
Registration:	N90194
MSN:	1697
Year of manufacture:	1975
Total airframe hrs:	17094 hours
Engine model:	Allison 250C20
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Kamuela, HI - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Ferry/positioning
Departure airport:	Hilo, HI (IT0)
Destination airport:	(KMUE)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The pilot experienced two engine chip warning light illuminations while conducting local air tours. After the second warning light illumination, the operator instructed the pilot to ferry the helicopter to the company's maintenance base. The engine sustained a total loss of power while en route to the maintenance facility and the pilot executed an emergency landing. The helicopter sustained a hard landing. The engine examination disclosed that the nose case (No. 1) bearing failed and the engine sustained a catastrophic failure due to oil starvation.

Probable Cause: failure of the nose case (No.1) bearing resulting in oil starvation.

Accident investigation: