# NTSB DFW06CA142: Bell 47G-4A, N4086C, Sheridan, AR, May 30, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 30, 2006, 17:35 local (22:35 UTC) - Place: Sheridan, AR - Coordinates: 34.328334, -92.35083 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3283&lon=-92.3508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Little Rock, Arkansas - NTSB case key (mKey): 63779 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63779/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA142 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 15,000-hour commercial pilot reported in a telephone interview that he departed a timber tract with 15 gallons of fuel on-board en route to another tract located about 13 miles away. When the turbine-powered helicopter was approximately three miles short of his destination, while at an altitude of 600 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine lost power. The pilot entered an autorotation for a forced landing to an open field. Examination of the aerial application helicopter at the accident site revealed that no fuel was found in the fuel nozzle and less than three gallons of fuel was found in the fuel tanks. The turbine engine was removed from the helicopter and shipped to the factory for a detailed examination and test run. A written statement provided by the supervising FAA inspector, who witnessed the engine examination and test run, stated that the engine started and ran for an hour and twenty minutes with no discrepancies noted. ## Factual narrative The 15,000-hour commercial pilot reported in a telephone interview that he departed a timber tract with 15 gallons of fuel on-board enroute to another tract located about 13 miles away. When the turbine -powered helicopter was approximately three miles short of his destination, while at an altitude of 600 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine lost power. The pilot entered an autorotation for a forced landing to an open field. Examination of the aerial application helicopter at the accident site revealed that no fuel was found in the fuel nozzle and less than three gallons of fuel was found in the fuel tanks. The turbine engine was removed from the helicopter and shipped to the factory for a detailed examination and test run. A written statement provided by the supervising FAA inspector, who witnessed the engine examination and test run, stated that the engine started and ran for an hour and twenty minutes with no discrepancies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4086C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4086C-2013-06-10), registration cancelled 2013-06-10, S/N 7727, built 1970 (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: 7727 - Engines: Allison 250 250 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 137 - Registered owner: Holcomb Aerial Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Sheridan, AR - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: N/A ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review January 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 15,000 total, 1,900 in this make and model, 98 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F ## 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 20060530009509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060530009509A), May 30, 2006: Bell 47G4A, Sheridan, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 30, 2006, about 1737 central daylight time, a Bell helicopter BHT-47-G4A, operated as a commercial agricultural aircraft, zmug, by the commercial… 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.