# NTSB CEN09LA324: Bell 47G, N4823, Kyle, TX, May 30, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 2009, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Kyle, TX - Coordinates: 29.939443, -97.808052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9394&lon=-97.8081&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73927 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA324 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73927/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73927 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA324 ## Probable cause The ground crewmember's failure to assure that the fuel nozzle was closed before pressurizing the line. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an available fire extinguisher. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Loading](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011500): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011500/cases.md?model=1181008), [All aircraft, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011500/cases.md) - [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md?model=1181008), [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md) - [Physical workspace: access to equipment/controls](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041015): Environmental issues › Task environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041015/cases.md?model=1181008), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md?model=1181008), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=1181008), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Other: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=1181008), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was belted in the left pilot seat with the helicopter’s engine and rotor system operating at ground idle. The ground crewmember was attempting to “hot refuel” the helicopter’s left fuel tank when he noticed that fuel was not flowing from the nozzle. The ground crewmember removed the nozzle from the fuel tank and placed it on the running helicopter’s chemical tank. The ground crewmember then dismounted from the helicopter and went to a kinked portion of the refueling hose. As he straightened the kinked hose, the nozzle immediately began spraying gasoline on the engine and the pilot before subsequently igniting. Fuel spray from the nozzle continued for several seconds and then stopped. The pilot exited the helicopter unassisted and extinguished the flames by slapping his body and arms with his hands. The ground crewmember assisted by pouring water on the seriously injured pilot and then calling for help. A fire extinguisher was not installed on either the helicopter or the refueling truck, and no attempts were made to extinguish the fire on the helicopter until emergency response firefighters arrived on scene. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 2009, about 1200 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-2 helicopter, N4823, sustained substantial damage after experiencing a fire during refueling operations at a remote field location near Kyle, Texas. The helicopter was being operated by Hardtime Helicopters, Inc., D’Hanis, Texas, as a visual flight rules (VFR) agricultural application flight, operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137. The pilot, who was the only person onboard, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to written statements from the operator, the pilot, and the ground crewmember, the pilot was belted in the left pilot seat with the helicopter’s engine and rotor system operating at ground idle. The removable cockpit doors were not installed. The ground crewmember was attempting to “hot refuel” the helicopter using a 35 foot long refueling hose attached to a 100 gallon fuel tank on a pickup truck which was parked next to the helicopter. The ground crewmember was standing on the forward cross tube of the helicopter with the refueling hose nozzle inserted in the helicopter’s left fuel tank when he noticed that fuel was not flowing from the nozzle. The ground crewmember removed the nozzle from the fuel tank and placed it on the operating helicopter’s chemical tank. The ground crewmember then dismounted from the helicopter and went to a kinked portion of the refueling hose. As he straightened the kinked hose, the nozzle immediately began spraying gasoline on the engine and the pilot before subsequently igniting. The fuel spray from the nozzle continued for several seconds and then stopped. The pilot exited the helicopter unassisted and extinguished the flames by slapping his body and arms with his hands. The ground crewmember assisted by pouring water on the injured pilot and then called 9-1-1 emergency. The pilot reported that there was no fire extinguisher in the helicopter and he was not aware of a fire extinguisher in the truck or in the chemical trailer attached to the truck. No attempts were made to extinguish the fire on the helicopter until emergency response firefighters arrived on-scene. Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular number 00-34A, Aircraft Ground Handling and Servicing, paragraph 9, g, (5), recommends that “Fuel-dispensing vehicles…..should be equipped with appropriate fire extinguishers”. However, federal aviation regulations do not require fire extinguishers to be installed on agricultural aircraft or on fuel-dispensing vehicles. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4823](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4823-2018-01-08), registration cancelled 2018-01-08, S/N M-210, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G (2) - Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: M-210 - Airframe hours: 4265 - Engines: LYCOMING VO435 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Michael E. Mollere Lamm Ranch - Registered owner: Hardtime Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 2008, 144 hours before - Departed: HYI, Kyle, TX - Destination: HYI, Kyle, TX - Airport: HYI, San Marcos Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: serious; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,200 total, 1,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KHYI, 4 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 20090530008609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090530008609A), May 30, 2009: Bell 47G2, Kyle, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On may 30, 2009 at approximately 1215 CDT, a helicopter Bell model -47G2 was on the ground refueling via hot refueling procedures, when the ground crew… ## Other investigations on N4823 (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 MIA76FKQ07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA76FKQ07), Aug 14, 1975: Bell 47G-2 (N4823), Itta Bena, MS, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA75FKQ02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA75FKQ02), Jul 11, 1974: Bell 47G-2 (N4823), Raleigh, MS, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA73FKQ30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73FKQ30), Jun 25, 1973: Bell 47G2-2 (N4823), Grenada, MS, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW71DRG55](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71DRG55), Dec 4, 1970: Bell 47G-2 (N4823), Corpus Chrsti, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (12 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73927. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 from Operator (item 1, .PDF, 325 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315404&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20from%20Operator-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 from Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315405&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20from%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement - McGee (Including a Hand Drawn Map Showing Positions of Helicopter and Refueling Truck) (item 3, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315406&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20McGee%20(Including%20a%20Hand%20Drawn%20Map%20Showing%20Positions%20of%20Helicopter%20and%20Refueling%20Truck)-Redacted.PDF - Map - Google Earth View of 29:56:36 N - 097:48:05 W (item 4, .PDF, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335907&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20-%20Google%20Earth%20View%20of%2029%3A56%3A36%20N%20-%20097%3A48%3A05%20W-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Showing Wreckage of Burned Helicopter as Viewed From the Right Front (Hays County Sheriff's Department Photo) (item 5, .PDF, 526 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336110&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Showing%20Wreckage%20of%20Burned%20Helicopter%20as%20Viewed%20From%20the%20Right%20Front%20%20(Hays%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Department%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Showing Open Fuel Cap on Left Fuel Tank of Burned Helicopter (Hays County Sheriff's Department Photo) (item 6, .PDF, 404 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335909&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Showing%20Open%20Fuel%20Cap%20on%20Left%20Fuel%20Tank%20of%20Burned%20Helicopter%20(Hays%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Department%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Showing Fuel Tank and Filter on Truck (Eric McGee Photo) (item 7, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335910&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Showing%20Fuel%20Tank%20and%20Filter%20on%20Truck%20(Eric%20McGee%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Showing Fuel Nozzle (Eric McGee Photo) (item 8, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335911&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Showing%20Fuel%20Nozzle%20(Eric%20McGee%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Showing Markings on Fuel Hose (Eric McGee Photo) (item 9, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335912&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Showing%20Markings%20on%20Fuel%20Hose%20(Eric%20McGee%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 6 - Generic Photo of a Similar Agricultural Bell 47 (Scott's Helicopter Services, Inc. Photo) (item 10, .PDF, 260 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336108&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20-%20Generic%20Photo%20of%20a%20Similar%20Agricultural%20Bell%2047%20%20(Scott%27s%20Helicopter%20Services,%20Inc.%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 7 - Generic Photo of a Similar Agricultural Bell 47 (Scott's Helicopter Services, Inc. Photo) (item 11, .PDF, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336109&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%20-%20Generic%20Photo%20of%20a%20Similar%20Agricultural%20Bell%2047%20%20(Scott%27s%20Helicopter%20Services,%20Inc.%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Hays County Sheriff Department 9-1-1 Emergency Logs Showing Initial Notification at 1211 Hours CDT (item 12, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335920&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Hays%20County%20Sheriff%20Department%209-1-1%20Emergency%20Logs%20Showing%20Initial%20Notification%20at%201211%20Hours%20CDT-Redacted.PDF 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.