# NTSB FTW92LA226: Bell 47-J2A, N291FW, Booneville, AR, September 16, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 16, 1992, 12:13 local (17:13 UTC)
- Place: Booneville, AR
- Coordinates: 35.130081, -93.909011 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1301&lon=-93.9090&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18567
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92LA226
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18567/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA226

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. FACTORS WERE FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, AND THE PILOT NOT REFUELING THE HELICOPTER.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command
- Miscellaneous/other, landing - flare/touchdown
  - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - separation
  - adequate rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD FLOWN THE HELICOPTER ON THE POWER LINE AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS AND 8 MINUTES WHEN A POWER LOSS OCCURRED. HE INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION TO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE FLARE, HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEVERED THE TAILBOOM. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. THE OWNER OF THE HELICOPTER DRAINED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL FROM THE TANKS AND SAID THAT HE WAS CERTAIN THAT LACK OF FUEL CAUSED THE FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT PERFORMED A CALCULATED FUEL CONSUMPTION CHECK TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT WHICH HE SAID SHOWED A FUEL BURN RATE OF 13.7 GALLONS PER HOUR OR 3 HOURS AND 47 MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME. HE USED A STOP WATCH IN THE COCKPIT TO ACCOUNT FOR FLIGHT TIME. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THE FUEL SYSTEM HOLDS 47.5 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL, THE ENGINE'S FUEL BURN RATE IS 19 GALLONS PER HOUR AT CRUISE, AND LISTS THE MAXIMUM CRUISE TIME AS 3 HOURS AND 18 MINUTES WITH THE ENGINE LEANED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N291FW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N291FW-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N 3303, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47-J2A
- Registry model: [Bell 47J-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j-2a) (registry code 1181106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3303
- Airframe hours: 5494
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-540-B1B3 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: Ruggles, Don C., doing business as Helicopter Southwest
- Registered owner: Ruggles, Don C.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 16, 1992, 99 hours before
- Departed: M39, MENA, AR
- Destination: 4M2, BOONEVILLE, AR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 8,134 total, 104 in this make and model, 7,035 as pilot in command, 186 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °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 19920916037079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920916037079A), Sep 16, 1992: Bell 47J2A, Booneville, AR, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on pipeline patrol. Had misjudged fuel burn as 14 gph. AFM shows 19 gallons per hour.

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.