# NTSB ERA17LA285: Bell 47G, N9526, St Marys, PA, August 20, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 2017, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: St Marys, PA - Coordinates: 41.407775, -78.561668 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4078&lon=-78.5617&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95862 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA285 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95862/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95862 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA285 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate prefight planning and en route fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. ## 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-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1181012), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1181012), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1181012), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=1181012), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1181012), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1181012), [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-2A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1181012), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that he departed in the helicopter with 37 to 42 gallons of fuel on board; however, he had only used an average fuel burn for his endurance estimates and did not make adjustments for pressure, temperature, or other performance metrics. He indicated that, about 2 hours into the flight, the helicopter "ran out of fuel." He performed an autorotation to a grassy lot and the helicopter landed hard, which resulted in structural damage. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel system was intact, that both fuel tanks were undamaged, and that each tank contained about 1 gallon or less of fuel, which was consistent with the unusable fuel quantity for each tank. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. Thus, because the student did not account for the pressure, temperature, and other performance metrics for his preflight calculations or in-flight fuel monitoring, he did not have sufficient fuel on board to complete the flight. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2017, at 1200 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47G-2A, N9526, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at St Marys, Pennsylvania. The student pilot was not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a local, solo-instructional flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at St Marys Municipal Airport (OYM), St Marys, Pennsylvania about 1000.The pilot reported that he arrived at OYM and performed his preflight inspection. He determined that the fuel tanks contained between 25 and 30 gallons of fuel, and then he added 12 gallons before the flight. He departed the airport and flew for about 2 hours when the helicopter "ran out of fuel." He performed an autorotation to a level, grassy lot and the helicopter landed hard. He exited the helicopter and was met by first responders. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration reported that the helicopter came to rest upright in a grassy lot, about 2.6 miles west of OYM. The fuselage was structurally damaged. The landing gear skids were spread and forced up, against the fuselage. The main rotor blades were bent. There was no fire. The inspector examined the fuel system and determined that both fuel tanks were intact and undamaged. The fuel lines remained in place and there were no fuel leaks. He estimated that both fuel tanks contained 1 gallon or less of fuel, which was the unusable fuel quantity for each tank. The pilot also reported that he used an average fuel burn for estimating his fuel status, with no adjustment for pressure, temperature, or other performance metrics. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9526](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9526), registered now, S/N 1288-16, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G (2A) - Registry model: [Bell 47G-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2a) (registry code 1181012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1288-16 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 13300 - Engines: LYCOMING VO-435-A1D 240 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 2017, 10 hours before - Departed: OYM, St Marys, PA - Destination: OYM, St Marys, PA - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 57 total, 57 in this make and model, 34 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: FIG, 22 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 20170820013489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170820013489A), Aug 20, 2017: Bell 47G-2A, Saint Marys, PA, Substantial damage. The PIC / student pilot was flying solo for approximately 1.5 hours on the day the accident occurred. He stated that he was flying to and from the airport… ## Other investigations on N9526 (2) 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. - [NTSB CEN09CA517](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA517), Aug 11, 2009: Bell 47G-2A (N9526), Covert, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of blocked fuel vents. - [NTSB CHI77FEK33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEK33), Sep 28, 1977: Bell 47G-2A (N9526), Big Plaines, OH, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95862. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 809 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468762&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - NTSB Memo for Record - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 435 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Memo%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 537 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468764&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos Provided by FAA (item 4, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20Provided%20by%20FAA-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.