# NTSB CEN25LA298: Bell 47G, N102SH, Assumption, MN, July 31, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 31, 2025, 08:46 local (13:46 UTC)
- Place: Assumption, MN · Near the intersection of CR 51 and CR 52.
- Coordinates: 44.687274, -93.835999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6873&lon=-93.8360&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Minneapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200674
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA298
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200674/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200674
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA298

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from attitude-inducing unporting of the fuel.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-4A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1181031), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Design (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-4A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=1181031), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md)
- [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-4A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=1181031), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-4A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1181031), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Bell 47G-4A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1181031), [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: [Bell 47G-4A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1181031), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Bell 47G-4A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1181031), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Bell 47G-4A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=1181031), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The aerial application helicopter had completed applying liquid chemical to a corn field and the hopper was empty. The pilot was flying the helicopter back to the loading truck at approximately 100 ft agl and 60 mph when a total loss of engine power occurred. The pilot performed an autorotation to a flat alfalfa field, the helicopter landed hard, the right side skid collapsed, and the helicopter came to rest upright. During the hard landing, the main rotor blades severed the tail boom. The pilot was able to egress from the helicopter without further incident. After the accident, about 5 total gallons of Jet A fuel were found in the two saddle-type fuel tanks, that are located above the turboshaft engine. There was no fuel leak due to the accident sequence. The pilot reported the helicopter was last fueled about 1 hour and 35 minutes before the accident occurred and about 30 gallons of fuel was added. For the most recent takeoff prior to the accident, the pilot reported that the cockpit fuel gauge was indicating between 8 to 18 gallons of fuel onboard. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the tail boom, and the tail rotor system. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The make and model of helicopter has a fuel capacity of 61.6 gallons of which 57.5 gallons of fuel is useable, and 4.1 gallons of fuel are unusable. The fuel delivery port or tube on both saddle-type fuel tanks is located at the aft, lower end of each fuel tank, and both fuel tanks deliver fuel to the engine simultaneously. There is no pilot-controlled fuel selector valve located in the cockpit. A pitch attitude change such as a banking turn or a nose-down attitude, would likely cause a disruption in fuel flow to the engine with the low fuel levels that were found in the fuel tanks, resulting in fuel starvation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N102SH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N102SH), registered now, S/N 7762, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G (4A)
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4a) (registry code 1181031) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 7762
- Year built: 1971
- Airframe hours: 13284.9
- Engines: Allison T63-A-700 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Scott Churchill, doing business as Scott Churchill
- Registered owner: Scott's Helicopter Services Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2025, 146.9 hours before
- Departed: None, Assumption, MN
- Destination: None, Assumption, MN
- Equipment: Data recorder, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,308.7 total, 2,203.3 in this make and model, 3,268.3 as pilot in command, 147.9 in the last 90 days, 107 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observed at: KGYL, 11 nm away
- METAR: KGYL 311335Z AUTO 00000KT 7SM CLR 18/14 A3035 RMK AO2 T01750135

## 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 20250731018149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250731018149A), Jul 31, 2025: Bell 47G-4A, Belle Plaine, MN, Substantial damage. The aircraft was returning to base after conducting aerial application operations. Before reaching base, the aircraft experienced engine issues and crashed…

## Docket (11 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 18, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200674. 5.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19147086&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA298%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19151989&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Pilot - additional information (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19211632&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA298%20(N102SH%20-%20Bell%2047G-4A)%20-%20Additional%20Questions%20(Pilot)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Director of maintenance - additional information (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19210633&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DOM%20-%20Requests_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- N102SH - recent airframe maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 326 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19180608&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Recent%20Airframe%20Maintenance%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- N102SH - recent engine maintenance records (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19180811&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Recent%20Engine%20Maintenance%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Scotta��s bell 47, inc. - bell 47G series rotorcraft flight manual excerpts (operating procedures, emergency procedures, and limitations) (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 420 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19147926&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RFM%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf
- Scotta��s bell 47, inc. - bell 47G series rotorcraft flight manual excerpts (accident flight height-velocity diagram) (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 354 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19212223&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=HV%20Diagram%20-%20Accident%20Flight-Rel.pdf
- Scotta��s bell 47, inc. - bell 47G series maintenance manual excerpts (soloy information - airframe fuel system) (item 9, PDF, 2 pages, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19180996&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Soloy%20MM%20(Fuel)-Rel.pdf
- Scotta��s bell 47, inc. - bell 47G series maintenance manual excerpts (bell information - airframe fuel system) (item 10, PDF, 6 pages, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19180660&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=G4A%20MM%20(Fuel)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- National agricultural aviation association - fly safe message manage your fuel to avoid an accident (item 11, PDF, 1 page, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19173626&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2025-08-18-FlySafe-Rel.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.

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