# NTSB CEN17LA113: Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1, N2875F, Archer City, TX, February 9, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 9, 2017, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Archer City, TX - Coordinates: 33.662776, -98.744445 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6628&lon=-98.7444&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 14, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94784 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94784/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94784 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA113 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the pilot’s inadvertent positioning of the mixture control to the “fuel cutoff” position. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=1180845), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1180845), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1180845), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1180845), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1180845), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=1180845), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1180845), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1180845), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he departed from his ranch and was flying about 100 ft above ground level and at 50 knots. He intended to position the carburetor heat to "on," but he inadvertently positioned the mixture control to the "fuel cutoff" position instead, and the engine lost total power. He immediately entered an autorotation, but because the helicopter was so low and slow, there was insufficient time and altitude to flare the helicopter. He stated that the airspeed decreased and that the main rotor blade stalled, which caused the helicopter to just "drop." The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's inadvertent positioning of the mixture control to the "fuel cutoff" position resulted in fuel starvation and the total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On February 9, 2017, about 1430 central standard time, a Bell – Transworld Helicopter 47D1, N2875F, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field near Archer City, Texas. The pilot received serious injuries. The helicopter was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from the pilot's ranch near Holliday, Texas, about 1420. The pilot reported that he departed his ranch and was flying about 100 ft above ground level and at 50 knots airspeed to inspect a cattle herd near Archer, TX. He reported that he intended to check his carburetor heat to ON, but he unintendedly pulled the mixture control to the fuel cutoff position, and the engine had an immediate total loss of power. The pilot stated that he immediately entered an autorotation, but because he was so low and slow, there was not enough time and altitude to flare the helicopter. He stated that the airspeed decreased immediately and the main rotor blade stalled, causing the helicopter to just "drop." He stated that it only took seconds for the helicopter to impact the terrain. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2875F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2875F-2017-05-01), registration cancelled 2017-05-01, S/N TWH-8, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL-TRANSWORLD HELICOPTERS 47D1 - Registry model: [Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-transworld-helicopters-47d1) (registry code 1180845) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: TWH-8 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 2530.1 - Engines: FRANKLIN 6V535A 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 2015 - Departed: Holliday, TX - Destination: Holliday, TX - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; private; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review July 30, 2014; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 862 total, 213 in this make and model, 757 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: SPS, 24 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 20170209001379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170209001379A), Feb 9, 2017: Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1, Archer City, TX, Destroyed. On February 9, 2017, at approximately 1400, a Bell 47D1 helicopter registration number N2875F, registered to [privacy data omitted], impacted terrain southeast… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94784. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 628 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451265&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - NTSB Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451266&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Photo Log (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 483 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451267&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Log-Master.PDF - Maintenance Logbook Excerpt (item 4, .PDF, 590 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451268&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Logbook%20Excerpt-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.