# NTSB CEN18LA269: Bell 47J, N8568F, Franklin, IN, July 15, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2018, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Franklin, IN - Coordinates: 39.426387, -86.058334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4264&lon=-86.0583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 97769 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA269 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97769/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97769 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA269 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47J-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1181106), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47J-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1181106), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Bell 47J-2A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1181106), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Bell 47J-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=1181106), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting a test flight in conjunction with an annual inspection when the engine lost power about 50 ft above ground level, which resulted in a hard landing. The helicopter was destroyed by a postimpact fire. A witness reported a plume of smoke trailing the helicopter shortly before the accident. Before the day of the accident, the helicopter had not been flown for about 4 years. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, although the engine examination was limited by the postimpact fire damage. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 2018, about 1745 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47J helicopter, N8568F, was destroyed during a hard landing and a postimpact fire following a loss of engine power near the Franklin Flying Field Airport (3FK), Franklin, Indiana. The pilot was seriously injured. The helicopter was registered to Brown County Tours and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from 3FK about 1730.The pilot reported that the helicopter had not been flown since 2014 and was being test flown in conjunction with an annual inspection prior to return to service. He stated that the engine lost power about 50 ft above ground level, resulting in a hard landing, and a postimpact fire. A witness reported that the pilot was checking out the helicopter because it had not been flown yet this season. The initial flight was completed without incident and, after the helicopter was fueled, the pilot took off again. The witness did not see the entire flight, but he could hear the helicopter and the engine sounded "smooth." He observed the helicopter flying over the fields north of the airport and subsequently noticed a "plume of white or grey smoke trailing the helicopter." The helicopter subsequently descended into the field. The helicopter came to rest upright. The aft portion of the tail boom, including the tail rotor assembly, separated and was located about 30 ft from the main wreckage. The main rotor blades remained attached to the hub and were located with the main wreckage. A postimpact fire consumed most of the fuselage structure. The engine sustained thermal damage consistent with the fire. A postaccident examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. However, the engine examination was limited by the postimpact fire damage. Although the helicopter had not been flown since 2014, maintenance records revealed that annual inspections were completed during that time with the most recent inspection being completed in April 2017. At the time of the accident, an annual inspection was in progress but had not been completed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8568F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8568F-2020-10-31), registration cancelled 2020-10-31, S/N 3715, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47J (2A) - Registry model: [Bell 47J-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j-2a) (registry code 1181106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TVO-435-GIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (registry code 41526, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3715 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 3618 - Engines: Lycoming VO-540-B1B3 305 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 2017, 0 hours before - Departed: 3FK, Franklin, IN - Destination: 3FK, Franklin, IN - Airport: 3FK, Franklin Flying Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2017; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: BAK, 12 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 20180715011229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180715011229A), Jul 15, 2018: Bell 47J-2A, Franklin, IN, Destroyed. The conditions were VFR. The pilot was Flying in a northerly direction at 50 feet altitude adjacent to runway 21. At the north end of runway 21 the pilot… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97769. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 875 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473930&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (to FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473931&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20(to%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473932&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Site Diagram (item 4, .PDF, 410 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473933&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Photo of Helicopter Wreckage (item 5, .PDF, 441 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473934&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Helicopter%20Wreckage-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records -- Excerpt (item 6, .PDF, 689 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473935&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%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.