# NTSB ATL94LA014: Bell 47G-3B-1 Soloy, N3078G, Atmore, AL, November 12, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 12, 1993, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Atmore, AL - Coordinates: 31.020418, -87.490501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0204&lon=-87.4905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3322 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3322/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA014 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION. FACTORS WERE THE LACK OF A FILTER ON THE REFUELING PUMP WHICH WOULD PRECLUDE WATER PASSAGE, AND THE HIGH TREES. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - improper, company/operator management (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - Hard landing, descent - emergency - terrain condition - roadway/highway ## Analysis AFTER LIFTOFF WITH A LONG LINE EXTERNAL LOAD, THE HELICOPTER WAS CLIMBED VERTICALLY TO ALLOW THE LOAD TO CLEAR TREES AROUND THE REMOTE OPERATING SITE. ABOUT 250 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND THE ENGINE QUIT. ROTOR SPEED WAS DECAYED DURING THE AUTOROTATION, TO OVERFLY THE TREES AND REACH A DIRT ROAD. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD ON THE ROAD AND CLIPPED TREES WITH THE MAIN ROTOR. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE HELICOPTER'S FUEL SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN WATER. THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN FUELED FROM PORTABLE DRUMS, AT THE REMOTE SITE, THAT HAD NO FILTER TO PRECLUDE WATER ENTERING THE AIRCRAFT. ## Factual narrative On November 12, 1993, about 1015 central standard time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 Soloy, N3078G, collided with trees and the ground, following a loss of engine power during takeoff, near Atmore, Alabama. The helicopter was operated by Louis V. Testa, dba Exploration Helicopters, under 14 CFR Part 133 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the external lift flight. There were no injuries to the commercial pilot, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that after lifting seismic equipment with a 100 foot external lift line, about 250 feet above the ground, the engine power decreased. The helicopter is equipped with an Allison 250-C20B turboshaft engine. He released the external load and did not reduce the collective position in an attempt to overfly trees to a road. He was able to reach the road, but collided with trees prior to landing on the road. The rotor speed had decayed and a hard autorotative landing was executed. Examination of the helicopter's fuel supply revealed that it contained water contamination (Record of Telephone Conversation attached). The operator reported that fuel was recently purchased from the Brewton, Alabama, airport. The airport manager, Blayne Kemp, provided a copy of a credit cart receipt for 307.4 gallons of Jet A fuel, purchased by Thunderbird Helicopters, on November 7, 1993. Mr. Kemp stated in a telephone conversation on November 15, 1993, that no water was found in the fuel at the airport. Aircraft records provided by the operator indicated that the helicopter was flown on November 10 and 11. During a telephone conversation with the pilot, he stated that the helicopter was fueled at the remote work site from portable drums that were kept at the site. He also stated that fuel was pumped from the drums into the helicopter without filtration. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3078G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3078G-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N 2925, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3B-1 SOLOY (47G-3B-1 S) - Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03003, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2925 - Airframe hours: 6367 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 260 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 133 - Operator: Testa, Louis V., doing business as Exploration Helicopters - Registered owner: Thunderbird Helicopters, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 11, 1993, 9 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 13,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 201 in the last 90 days, 68 in the last 30 days, 402 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MOB, 45 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 19931112042669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931112042669A), Nov 12, 1993: Bell 47G3B1, Atmore, AL, Substantial damage. While lifting external load lost power. Dropped load. Lost rotor RPM trying for road. Hit trees. Unfiltered fueling ## Other investigations on N3078G (2) 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 WPR19LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA194), Jul 13, 2019: Bell 47G 3B 1 (N3078G), Mosby, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to account for environmental conditions conducive to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and subsequent loss of control.… - [NTSB SEA79FTI19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FTI19), Jun 25, 1979: Bell 47G3B1 (N3078G), Emigrant, MT, 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.