# Accident 19990717035079A: Bell 47G3B1, Sour Lake, TX, July 17, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 17, 1999, 16:30 local time
- Place: Sour Lake, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: ZIOG
- Location: 30.1301° N, 94.4008° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1301&lon=-94.4008&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4002G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4002G-2018-03-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-1 (registry code 1181028, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Reported engine: ALLSN T63A700
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,549 total, 500 in this make and model, 170 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW99TA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99TA194) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990717035079A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE HELICOPTER LOST ENGINE POWER DURING TAKEOFF DUE TO CONTAMINATED FUEL. THE COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER PILOT STATED THAT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE FUELING TRUCK, WHICH CONTAINED THREE TANKS (ONE EACH FOR WATER, CHEMICALS, AND FUEL), WAS CHECKED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL APPEARED `NORMAL' THAT NIGHT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER WAS `REFUELED WITHOUT SUMPING THE TANKS.' THE PILOT ADDED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AT 30 MILES PER HOUR. HE EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION TO THE GROUND WHERE THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE TAIL BOOM AND THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FOUND 20 GALLONS OF WATER IN THE HELICOPTER'S FUEL TANK AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE ADDED THAT HE DISCOVERED THE FUEL TRUCK HAD A CRACK IN BETWEEN THE WATER AND FUEL TANKS. APPROXIMATELY 80 GALLONS OF WATER HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRUCK'S FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TRUCK WAS `SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN AQUA STOP FILTER INSTALLED THAT WILL NOT PUMP IF WATER IS PRESENT BUT THE WRONG FILTER WAS INSTALLED.'

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW99TA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99TA194), Jul 17, 1999: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N4002G), Sour Lake, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adequately preflight the helicopter's fuel system resulting in the total loss of engine power as a result of water contamination. Factors were the incorrect filter installed on…

## Other reports on N4002G (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20150803016289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150803016289A), Aug 3, 2015: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N4002G), Camden, AL, Destroyed. 08/03/2015 1600 Local time. Pilot stated that during approach to a landing spot from the southeast, with winds light and variable from the northwest, at about…
- [Accident 20021019028919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021019028919A), Oct 19, 2002: Bell 47G3B1 (N4002G), Highfalls, GA, Destroyed. (-23) Operator said while spraying timber he lost engine power and autorotated into wooded area, iic found that recovery team found only 2 gal. Of gas in left…
- [Accident 19790120021479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790120021479A), Jan 20, 1979: Bell 47G4A (N4002G), Falfurrias, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was herding cattle at low altitude, hit trees. Gusty winds contributed.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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