20120709012379A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 47G-3B-2 · Treynor, IA · July 9, 2012

Date: July 9, 2012 · 06:45 local
Place: Treynor, IA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: U9QG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2919W
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN12CA435
Reported as: Bell 47G-3B-2
Reported engine: Allison 250-C10D
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 4,700 total850 in this make and model250 in the last 90 days

N2919WRegistration cancelled Feb 8, 2025 · Bell 47G-3B-2S/N 6823 Airframe modelBell 47G-3B-2 Engine modelLycoming TVO-435-GIATurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

As stated by the pilot, during aerial application while traveling north the aircraft momentarily torqued left and a warning light quickly flashed. A check of the gauges was performed and all appeared to be normal, including fuel quanity which was just below the quarter tank mark. Spraying was continued for a few seconds then the engine suddenly stopped running. As a result the pilot made an emergency landing onto a soybean field. Fuel samples taken from each tank and fuel filter appeared normal. There was no visible fuel in the left tank, and only visible below the bottom baffle in the right tank. Fuel was drained by the director of maintenance for custom air, LLC and revealed the combined total from both fuel tanks was approximately 1.75 gallons. Total fuel capacity is 61 gallons with 57 usable and 4 gallons unusable. There was no visible fuel leaking from either tank, or evidence of fuel on the ground.

As the FAA filed it

AS STATED BY THE PILOT, DURING AERIAL APPLICATION WHILE TRAVELING NORTH THE AIRCRAFT MOMENTARILY TORQUED LEFT AND A WARNING LIGHT QUICKLY FLASHED. A CHECK OF THE GAUGES WAS PERFORMED AND ALL APPEARED TO BE NORMAL, INCLUDING FUEL QUANITY WHICH WAS JUST BELOW THE QUARTER TANK MARK.SPRAYING WAS CONTINUED FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING. AS A RESULT THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ONTO A SOYBEAN FIELD. FUEL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM EACH TANK AND FUEL FILTER APPEARED NORMAL. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK, AND ONLY VISIBLE BELOW THE BOTTOM BAFFLE IN THE RIGHT TANK. FUEL WAS DRAINED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE FOR CUSTOM AIR, LLC AND REVEALED THE COMBINED TOTAL FROM BOTH FUEL TANKS WAS APPROXIMATELY 1.75 GALLONS. TOTAL FUEL CAPACITY IS 61 GALLONS WITH 57 USABLE AND 4 GALLONS UNUSABLE. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE FUEL LEAKING FROM EITHER TANK, OR EVIDENCE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN12CA435Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportTreynor, IAThe pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Jul 9, 2012 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N2919W · 2

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

Incident 19800117015169IPwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate · Sweet Home, ORAutorotated to hard landing due to loss of power. Left tank fuel vent found to be closed.Jan 17, 1980 · Reported as Bell 47G3B1 · Minor damage Accident 19780415014089APwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft · Kings Valley, ORLanded across logging road cut into hillside. Main rotor blades coted upslope. Recon flight.Apr 15, 1978 · Substantial damage