# NTSB ATL97LA002: Bell UH-IB, N846MC, Bennettsville, SC, October 12, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 12, 1996, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Bennettsville, SC - Coordinates: 34.629436, -79.680404 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6294&lon=-79.6804&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3791 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3791/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA002 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power due to an inadequate supply of usable fuel. A factor relating to the accident was: an inoperative left boost pump, which increased the amount of unusable fuel in the respective tank. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,electric boost pump - inoperative (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - performed - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis The helicopter was being used on an aerial application flight when it collided with the ground. There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident. Head injuries of the pilot prevented him from giving a full account of the accident. Examination of the accident site disclosed that the tail section of the airframe collided with the ground, followed by the nose section colliding with a stump. Examination of the airframe and subsystems failed to disclose a mechanical problem. A review of the aircraft maintenance logs disclosed several open discrepancies. One discrepancy stated that the left fuel boost pump was not operational. According to the aircraft operator's manual, about 55 pounds of fuel would have been unusable in the left tank, if the boost pump was not operational. Wreckage examination revealed about 1/4 inch of fuel in the right fuel tank and about four inches (less than 55 pounds) of fuel in the left fuel tank. Neither the odor of fuel nor visible fuel leakage was noted at the accident site. Cockpit examination revealed that the left fuel pump boost circuit breaker was out. No fuel tank selector was installed in the UH-1B helicopter. ## Factual narrative On October 12, 1996, at 1900 eastern daylight time, a Bell UH-1B, N846MC, collided with the ground and a stump under unknown circumstances near Bennettsville, South Carolina. The aerial application flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The helicopter was destroyed, and the pilot received serious injuries. The flight departed the staging area in Bennettsville, South Carolina, at 1847. According to the operator, the pilot sustained head injuries and, is still unable to give an account of the accident. The operator's records showed that the flight departed the staging area about 1847. The purpose of this flight was to complete the spraying operation that had been started earlier. The operator also stated that the ground personnel, who assisted the pilot in the loading and refueling operation, did not witness the events of the accident; there were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident. Examination of the accident site disclosed that the tail section of the airframe collided with the ground, followed by the nose section collision with a stump. The helicopter rested on the right side with the nose section orientated in the opposite direction of the initial flight path. During the examination of the wreckage, a small quantity of fuel was recovered from the fuel system. The subsequent examination of the airframe and subsystems failed to disclose a mechanical problem. However, a review of the aircraft maintenance logs revealed several open discrepancies. One discrepancy stated that the left fuel boost pump was not operational. According to the aircraft operator's manual approximately 55 pounds of fuel would be unusable in the left tank when the boost pump is not operational. The wreckage examination also revealed that the right fuel tank had approximately 1/4 inch of fuel at the lowest point. There were about four inches or less than 55 pounds of fuel in the left fuel tank at the lowest point. The odor of fuel or visible fuel leakage was not observed at the accident site. The cockpit examination revealed that the left fuel pump boost circuit breaker was out. There is no fuel tank selector installed on the UH-1B helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N846MC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N846MC-1997-03-21), registration cancelled 1997-03-21, S/N 603567 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell UH-IB - Registry model: [Bell UH-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1b) (registry code 1181410) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 60-3567 - Airframe hours: 5654 - Engines: Lycoming T-53L11D 1250 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Ag Rotor Inc,. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 6, 1996, 80 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 4,000 total, 825 in this make and model, 3,950 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FLO, 20 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 19961012032179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961012032179A), Oct 12, 1996: Bell UH1B, Bennettsville, SC, Destroyed. Collided with ground during ag ops. Fuel pump inop. Fuel starvation. Tail rotor hit, then nose hit a stump. (-23) aircraft was reportedly applying chemicals… 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.