NTSB Identification: SEA83LA122.
The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 20511.
Accident occurred Saturday, June 11, 1983 in ZILLAH, WA
Aircraft: BELL 47G-2, registration: N41721
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.THE ROTORCRAFT MADE A HARD LANDING AFTER COLLIDING WITH TREES DURING AN AUTOROTATION. THE ACFT HAD EXPERIENCED AN ENGINEFAILURE WHILE ON A REPOSITIONING FLIGHT BETWEEN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS AND WAS FORCED TO LAND. THE ACFT WAS AUTOROTATED INTO AN ORCHARD AND CONTACTED TREES, SUSTAINING SUBTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE SKIDS, MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND TAIL BOOM. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A TEMPORARY SITE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE MISHAP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FUEL CELLS WERE EMPTY BUT THE FUEL GAUGES SHOWED FUEL REMAINING. THE ACFT WAS FUELED WITH 22 GALLONS OF FUEL.THE GAUGES READ ONE QUARTER-LEFT,ONE HALF-RIGHT. THE SYSTEM WAS DRAINED EMPTY. THE GAUGES READ ONE EIGHTH-LEFT,ONE QUARTER-RIGHT.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
FUEL SUPPLY..MISJUDGED..PILOT IN COMMAND
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION..INADEQUATE..PILOT IN COMMAND
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
REFUELING..NOT PERFORMED..PILOT IN COMMAND
Contributing Factors
TERRAIN CONDITION..NONE SUITABLE
Contributing Factors
FLUID,FUEL..EXHAUSTION
Contributing Factors
TERRAIN CONDITION..HIGH VEGETATION
Contributing Factors
AUTOROTATION..PERFORMED..PILOT IN COMMAND
Contributing Factors
ENGINE INSTRUMENTS,FUEL QUANTITY GAGE..FALSE INDICATION
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