# Accident 20110802020479A: Bell 47G-2, Charles City, IA, August 2, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 2, 2011, 11:30 local time
- Place: Charles City, IA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: CUHG
- Location: 43.0725° N, 92.6106° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0725&lon=-92.6106&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4771N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4771N-2017-09-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-2 (registry code 1181008, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-2
- Reported engine: LYCOMING VO-435 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,100 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11CA540](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA540) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110802020479A

## Narrative

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

AS STATED BY THE PILOT, UPON LANDING WITH THE INTENTION OF REFUELING, HE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND BECAME DISTRACTED BY GROUND PERSONNEL WHEN THEY SHOWED HIM A MAP. HE THEN RETURNED TO THE AIRCRAFT AND DEPARTED WITHOUT REFUELING. THIS ACTION CAUSED THE FUEL STARVATION SITUATION, WHICH LEAD TO THE EMERGENCY LANDING. FAA INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL DRAINED BOTH FUEL TANKS AND TOTAL FUEL THAT REMAINED WAS THREE AND ONE HALF QUARTS, COMBINED. FUEL CAPACITY IS 43 GALLONS, USEABLE 41 GALLONS.

## 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 CEN11CA540](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA540), Aug 2, 2011: Bell 47G-2 (N4771N), Charles City, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to refuel the helicopter which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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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