TSB 3 R-44 Ravens received Jet A1 leading up to accident

[bizjets101]

C-FNZO Robinson R44-II Raven March 1 2011 Forestville Quebec - TSB report just released . . .

Click Here Aviation Investigation Report A11Q0036 - The Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter (serial number 11759, registration C-FNZO) was on a visual flight rules flight from Port-Menier, Quebec, to Québec, Quebec, with 2 people on board and with 2 refuelling stopovers planned. It was accompanied by 2 other Robinson R44 II helicopters. During the stopover at Forestville, the 3 helicopters were refuelled with Jet A-1 fuel instead of the required AVGAS 100LL.

At about 1620 Eastern Standard Time, during its initial climb, C-FNZO lost engine power and the pilot made a forced landing in a residential neighbourhood in Forestville. Both people on board had minor injuries and were taken to hospital. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The 2 other helicopters landed near C-FNZO and sustained no damage. The emergency locator transmitter did not activate following the hard landing. The accident occurred during daylight hours.


TSB

[linecrew]

I've always been curious about this. In the event that the aircraft gets fueled with the wrong type of fuel, what happens to the person that fueled it? Are they held criminally responsible? Ignorance is always a weak defence so does that also apply to this type of incident/accident?

[old_man]

I've always been curious about this. In the event that the aircraft gets fueled with the wrong type of fuel, what happens to the person that fueled it? Are they held criminally responsible?

I think it would matter a lot on the circumstances. However I think the pilot bears a lot of responsibility to supervise his refueling. If you simply say 'fill it up' and walk in to find some coffee....well, don't be surprised if you get the wrong type of fuel. If you simply say 'fill it up 100LL' and walk in to find some coffee I think you are still practicing bad airmanship for not making sure buddy does as asked. If you sit out there and watch the process, make sure it's the right bowser, properly filled....etc then I would say you practiced due diligence. If you get the wrong fuel because someone miss labeled the bowser than that is another story.

Besides, I would be very cautious in an R44 seeing as a lot of other helicopters roughly that size (Jet ranger, EC120, AStar) all take JetA. Much like if I was in that twin diamond that takes JetA instead of 100LL I would watch the fueling like a hawk.

That being all said I have no clue as to the circumstances that led to the miss fueling off all 3 helicopters.

[Siddley Hawker]

Unless the fuel was free, what did it say on the fuel charge slip, 100LL or JetA?

[old_man]

Unless the fuel was free, what did it say on the fuel charge slip, 100LL or JetA?

Just read that majority of the report. It said JetA.

Basically, the scenario is what I described. They called ahead to ask if 100LL was available. When they landeed the pilots didn't supervise (the incorrect tank was fueled), didn't say they wanted 100LL, didn't confirm 100LL was actually being used, and eventually just went inside. The refueller was only experienced in refueling turbine helos. Guess what he did.

Hell, when they signed the fuel slips they didn't notice the type of fuel or that fact that it was a much smaller quantity than expected. They only noticed it was cheaper.

TC does not set any qualifications to be a refueller. It behooves pilots to monitor what is being done to their aircraft.

[Gogona]

TC does not set any qualifications to be a refueller

But that's still not a bad idea, though. It doesn't require a hundreds of hours and stack of instructional books to get qualified. However, it may help.

[rapid602]

Its just a tad off topic but there is a message which relates to one comment made above about supervising YOUR REFUELING.

I used to fly an MU2 which if you can see the faces of the refuelers when you pull up its too funny. The aircraft is very compicated to refuel if you have 3 hours of fuel out of it.

We were in Northern Florida. When the winds are right you can make Canada with no fuel stop. We had a digital fuel counter and it was accurate to 2%. I told the fueler "to fill it as much as possible. We care going to try and make Canada NON STOP" about 3.25 hours.

I did watch him fill the tanks and when he started on the last one ... I went for coffee. When we got back and ready to leave I noticed the fuel slip was a lot less than we burned on the way down. I asked the fueler to bring me a ladder. He insisted we were full. I said I wanted a ladder and when I went to look in the tanks he told me one of the tips would take some fuel.
He said the truck ran out of fuel and it was his lunch so he didn't think we would mind.

So stuff happens.... not blaming him .. just caught it before we took off. Some guys in the rush to get going and being away at an unfamiliar airport may miss it. It happened we got the fuel and took off and lived to tell about it. Its real easy to order fuel and end up with a problem. I can't remember if we made Canada in case some of you want to know ... but probably good to stay to the end. I left when he started the last tank. Fueling an MU2 is a game of cris cross for the fuel guys and if he is new its a night mare with pressurized tip tanks.

Probably a good idea keep an eye out .... I did everytime after that experience.

Fly Safe and Merry Christmas to all.

[Heliian]

The R44 is the most dangerous helicopter on the planet. Not only is it a tin can with little to no safety features, most private owners are in way over their heads. I could see one a/c being refuelled incorrectly but three a/c with three seperate pilots? C'MON MAN!!!!

It has nothing to do with them being in or from quebec either.

[slam525i]

I told the fueler "to fill it as much as possible.
.
.
.
I asked the fueler to bring me a ladder. He insisted we were full. I said I wanted a ladder and when I went to look in the tanks he told me one of the tips would take some fuel.
He said the truck ran out of fuel and it was his lunch so he didn't think we would mind.

So stuff happens.... not blaming him ..

Nice job catching it. I'll have to keep this in mind, but... why not blame him? Why not have a word with him, stating quite clearly what he had done, the danger involved, and that he could have potentially caused a crash?

[Blakey]

I hate to hijack two threads at once but.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Hoover ... oover_Ring

[jubjub]

The Hoover Nozzle/Ring works great until a Eurocopter or Turbo Beaver shows up and you need to swap the nozzle out for a smaller one that WILL most definitely fit into AVGAS tanks when the line guys forget to swap it back. Better to double check those orders and tanker decal... most line guys at small/medium airports are pilots and get it, the others are well....not exactly as knowledgeable as you would like/hope/pray.

[Caracrane]

I used to fly the company amphib Caravan. They were not there when they refuelled the 3 a/c. They were gone for lunch.
She missed her auto-rotation and was badly injured to her spine. Her husband much older escaped uninjured.

[Heliian]

from the tsb link above

When fuelling, the pilots were present and were helping the refueller, without ever noticing that the pump being used was for fuel type Jet A-1. The three pilots then each signed their individual fuel vouchers, which clearly specified that Jet A-1 fuel had been pumped into the fuel tanks.

This could have been much worse, glad everyone came through alive and hopefully the insurance will cover the replacement cost. Personally, i'd upgrade to a clapped out bell 206a

[westcoastwonder]

from the tsb link above

When fuelling, the pilots were present and were helping the refueller, without ever noticing that the pump being used was for fuel type Jet A-1. The three pilots then each signed their individual fuel vouchers, which clearly specified that Jet A-1 fuel had been pumped into the fuel tanks.

This could have been much worse, glad everyone came through alive and hopefully the insurance will cover the replacement cost. Personally, i'd upgrade to a clapped out bell 206a

The report said that 2 of 3 pilots left before refueling. The third one left for washroom before it was finished.

One pilot signed 2 slips, one pilot signed the other.
All said jeta

http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-r ... 1q0036.asp

[bizjets101]

A great friend of mine Milko Bloom was killed in the Skycraft DC-3 crash in St. Louis in Jan 1984 due to Jet A1 being fueled.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2 ... 16,2703466

Milko had been laid off from Millardair and gone to Skycraft at Oshawa. While fighting for his life after the accident - Mr. Shoichet - also my friend, flew Milko's family to St. Louis on C-GSAS Lear for free!!

The DC-3 - Milko was overseeing the refueling, the avgas truck pulled up and began fueling.

Milko went back insidet the FBO as it was cold and windy outside.

The person refueling had zero aviation experience and had just started with the company, the 100 Avgas truck kept stalling, so he took the fuel ticket out of the meter - stopped fueling, parked the truck - and returned with a Jet A1 truck.

After finishing fueling, he then added both amounts to the same ticket, but the code registered on the ticket was the Avgas truck - though the numbers didn't add up.

On take-off the aircraft was backfiring, two aborted take-offs, cold, windy, after 10pm they radioed the FBO who confirmed the fuel ticket was imprinted with the code of the avgas truck.

So the tried a 3rd take-off. The aircraft suffered twin engine failure and attempted to land on the Interstate 40 - but veered to the side to avoid cars, struck a pole and came to an abrupt stop. Both crew were thrown thru the front of the aircraft.

Milko was in hospital 3 days but never regained consciousness and passed away, he is buried in Orangeville ON his hometown, and still missed to this day.