Summary
On August 02, 2011, a Bell 47G-2 (N4771N) was involved in an accident near Charles City, IA. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to refuel the helicopter which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
The operator reported that prior to the accident flight, the pilot was distracted during his intended refueling operation. The distraction involved ground personnel entering the helicopter cabin after landing to discuss the next spraying operation with the pilot. After the conversation, the pilot departed without refueling the helicopter. While completing an aerial application, the engine experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot initiated an autorotation and impacted terrain. A postaccident examination of the helicopter showed the tail boom was partially separated and the landing gear skids were bent. The operator reported that approximately 3.5 quarts of fuel were drained from the fuel tanks, and 2 gallons of fuel were considered unusable.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CEN11CA540. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4771N.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to refuel the helicopter which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The operator reported that prior to the accident flight, the pilot was distracted during his intended refueling operation. The distraction involved ground personnel entering the helicopter cabin after landing to discuss the next spraying operation with the pilot. After the conversation, the pilot departed without refueling the helicopter. While completing an aerial application, the engine experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot initiated an autorotation and impacted terrain. A postaccident examination of the helicopter showed the tail boom was partially separated and the landing gear skids were bent. The operator reported that approximately 3.5 quarts of fuel were drained from the fuel tanks, and 2 gallons of fuel were considered unusable.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN11CA540