# NTSB CEN10CA317: Bell 47G, N47WK, Plymouth, MI, June 13, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 13, 2010, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Plymouth, MI - Coordinates: 42.348056, -83.45639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3481&lon=-83.4564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 76312 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA317 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76312/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76312 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA317 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat, which led to carburetor icing and a loss of engine power following takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power about 2 miles northeast of the departure airport. The pilot then performed an autorotation onto a grass area. The helicopter sustained substantial damage, including damage to the main rotor blades and left side of the fuselage. The pilot was uninjured. Examination of the helicopter revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A carburetor temperature gauge had been installed in the helicopter. The pilot stated that he did not use carburetor heat during or after the takeoff from the departure airport. Weather conditions at the time winds 290 degrees at 9 knots, gusts to 17 knots, 10 statute miles, 2,900 feet overcast, temperature 23 degrees Celsius, dew point 17 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 30.00 inches. According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, the conditions were conducive to serious icing at glide power. ## Factual narrative The helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power about 2 miles northeast of the departure airport. The pilot then performed an autorotation onto a grass area near interstate 275. The helicopter sustained substantial damage, which included damage to the main rotor blades and left side of the fuselage. The pilot was uninjured. Examination of the helicopter revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation and the installation of a carburetor temperature gauge. The pilot stated that he did not use carburetor heat during or after the takeoff from the departure airport. Weather conditions at the time winds 290 degrees at 9 knots, gusts to 17 knots, 10 statute miles, 2,900 feet overcast, temperature 23 degrees Celsius, dew point 17 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 30.00 inches. According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, the conditions were conducive to serious icing at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: N47WK (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G (2) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2254 - Airframe hours: 7096 - Engines: Lycoming VO-435-A1E 240 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Jay Services LC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 2010 - Departed: 1D2, Plymouth, MI - Destination: 1D2, Plymouth, MI - Airport: 1D2, Canton-Plymouth-Mettetal Airpo ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 286 total, 149 in this make and model, 130 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: YIP, 8 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 20100613041729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100613041729A), Jun 13, 2010: Bell 47G-2, Plymouth, MI, Substantial damage. On June 13, 2010 at approximately 1650 inspector [privacy data omitted] received a call from inspector [privacy data omitted] requesting response to a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76312. 499 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 417 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333144&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Meteorological Information (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333145&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Meteorological%20Information-Master.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.