# NTSB ATL03LA007: Bell 47G3B1, N4002G, Highfalls, GA, October 19, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 2002, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Highfalls, GA - Coordinates: 33.325, -84.298057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3250&lon=-84.2981&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55926 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55926/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA007 ## Probable cause The pilots inadequate fuel management, and subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and a in-flight collision with trees during an autorotation. A factor was the pilot's failure to insure that the required equipment (fuel gauge) was installed in the helicopter. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - engine instruments,fuel flow gage - not installed (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis A commercial pilot was completing his timber spraying operation and returning to the staging area. While at cruise flight the pilot felt a surge of engine power followed by a complete loss of power. The pilot selected a forced landing area and entered an autorotation. The helicopter collided with trees in a heavily wooded area. After the helicopter came to rest, the pilot removed the fuel filters to examine them for contamination, but was unable to make that determination. On recovery of the helicopter no fuel was found in the fuel tanks, and the helicopter was not equipped with a fuel quantity gauge for each tank as required by Federal Regulations. No other mechanical or flight control malfunctions were found with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 2002, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47G3B1, N4002G, registered to and operated by Holcomb Aerial Services, collided with trees during an autorotation near Highfalls, Georgia. The agricultural flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Part 137 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot was not injured. The flight departed a field near Highfalls, Georgia, on October 19, 2002 at 0900. The commercial pilot was completing his timber spraying operation and returning to the staging area. While at cruise flight the pilot felt a surge of engine power followed by a complete loss of power. The pilot selected a forced landing area and entered an autorotation. The pilot stated that the engine regained power during the forced landing. The helicopter collided with trees in a heavily wooded area. After the helicopter came to rest, the pilot removed the fuel filters to examine them for contamination, but was unable to make that determination. According to the pilot, 30 gallons of fuel was on board at the beginning of the flight and the flight lasted 25 minutes. Examination of the Bell 47 operator's manual revealed the Bell 47 burns approximately 25 gallons of fuel per hour. No fuel was found in the fuel tanks during recovery of the helicopter at the accident site. Examination of the helicopter revealed both skids were separated from the airframe. The pilot's windscreen was broken. The tail boom separated from the main fuselage, and the main rotor blades were buckled. The helicopter was moved to a recovery facility for further examination. Fuel was added to both fuel tanks, and no leaks were noted. Electrical power was supplied to the helicopter, and the engine was started and operated normally for a period of ten minutes. There were no fuel quantity indicators in the cockpit. All engine control gauges were in the green operating range during the test run-up. No other mechanical malfunctions were found with the helicopter. Federal Aviation Regulations 14 CFR Part 91.205 (b) states: For visual flight rules during the day the following instruments are required: (9) Fuel gauge indicating the quantity of fuel in each tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4002G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4002G-2018-03-23), registration cancelled 2018-03-23, S/N 6529, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G3B1 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 6529 - Airframe hours: 10860 - Engines: Allison T63-A700 300 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Holcomb Aerial Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 28, 2002, 66 hours before - Departed: 0900, Highfalls, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 17, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 276 total, 276 in the last 90 days, 96 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 90 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20021019028919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021019028919A), Oct 19, 2002: Bell 47G3B1, 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… ## Other investigations on N4002G (4) 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 ERA15LA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA296), Aug 3, 2015: Bell 47G 3B 1 (N4002G), Camden, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failure of the helicopter's hydraulic flight control systems for reasons that could not be determined due to the fire damage, and the pilot's inability to turn off the hydraulic system to relieve… - [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… - [NTSB FTW79FRG13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FRG13), Jan 20, 1979: Bell 47G-4A (N4002G), Falfurrias, TX, destroyed - [NTSB UNK71X0109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK71X0109), Jun 8, 1971: Bell 47G-4A (N4002G), Angola, Angola, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.