# NTSB ERA25LA156: Bell 206, N5QV, Chamblee, GA, March 21, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 21, 2025, 15:53 local (19:53 UTC) - Place: Chamblee, GA - Coordinates: 33.876002, -84.302031 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8760&lon=-84.3020&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: TSB Canada, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199910 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199910/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199910 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA156 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during approach due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1181511), [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 206B, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the electronic news gathering helicopter reported that he departed the airport on a preplanned flight to obtain video footage at four locations. After filming the four locations, but before returning to the airport, the pilot was contacted via radio about filming a fifth location due to breaking news. While over the fifth location, the cockpit fuel pump caution light illuminated, and the pilot noticed a low fuel level but elected to return to the airport rather than land at a nearby city helipad. While over the airport ramp area at 100 to 150 ft above ground level, the engine “hiccupped” and then lost all power. The pilot attempted an autorotation, but the helicopter landed hard on the ramp area. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The inspector also noted that the fuel tanks were absent of fuel and the cockpit fuel gauge needle was below “E.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5QV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5QV), registered now, S/N 3098 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206 (B) - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (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: 3098 - Airframe hours: 15216 - Engines: Allison 250-C20J 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Helicopters Inc, doing business as Wsb-Tv 2 - Registered owner: Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 17, 2025 - Airport: PDK, Dekalb-Peachtree Airport - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: serious; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 9, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,783 total, 1,030 in this make and model, 2,706 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KPDK - METAR: KPDK 211953Z AUTO 29007KT 10SM CLR 16/M07 A3008 ## 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 20250321009559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250321009559A), Mar 21, 2025: Bell 206B, Chamblee, GA, Substantial damage. The pilot of the news helicopter was conducting news gathering operations in the atlanta metro area. While shooting footage of 3 planned locations the pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199910. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18593999&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record - FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18592790&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18594135&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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. --- 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.