Accident Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III V5-HTZ, Thursday 27 September 2012

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Date:	Thursday 27 September 2012
Time:
Type:	Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III
Owner/operator:	Namibia Helicopter Services
Registration:	V5-HTZ
MSN:	51150
Year of manufacture:	1985
Total airframe hrs:	9690 hours
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	10 NM north of Walvis Bay Airport - Namibia
Phase:	Unknown
Nature:	Survey
Departure airport:	Henties Bay
Destination airport:	Walvis Bay (FYWB)
Investigating agency:	DAAI
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
After takeoff from Henties Bay to Walvis Bay with two passengers and around 400 pounds of fuel which translate to (222.2 liters) on board the aircraft routed straight to Walvis Bay. When the aircraft was two miles south of Swakopmund the right booster warning light came on. He looked at the fuel pressure which he found sufficient and the fuel gauge was still showing 300 pounds (166.6 liters). The pilot continued flying to Walvis Bay and at 11 miles in bound Walvis Bay Airport he descended the aircraft from 1000 feet AGL to 500 feet AGL and called Walvis Bay tower but there was no respond. The aircraft experience a light turbulence and the engine started surging. After the engine surged about three times it shut down and the engine out
warning light came on. After the engine shut down the pilot immediately lowered the collective stick control to execute an autorotation and maintained a good main rotor R.P.M and speed of about ± 60 knots After he landed the aircraft safe on the ground, the main rotor struck the tail boom cutting off the rear section of the tail boom.

Probable Cause
Engine failure

CONTRIBUTING FACTOR
Fuel contamination

Accident investigation: