# NTSB LAX00LA288: Bell 47D, N39KH, Stockton, CA, August 5, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 2000, 17:24 local (Aug 5, 2000, 00:24 UTC) - Place: Stockton, CA - Coordinates: 37.894443, -121.238609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8944&lon=-121.2386&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 49932 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49932/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA288 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate planning by which he miscalculated fuel consumption which resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - performed, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The commercial pilot performed an autorotative landing to an open field following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The skids contacted a berm on touchdown, and the helicopter began rocking. As the helicopter pitched fore and aft, the main rotor blades and tail rotor blades contacted the ground. The single engine helicopter utilized a single-tank fuel system capable of containing 29 gallons of fuel. The pilot anticipated a 16 g.p.h. fuel-flow, and determined he had an endurance of 1 hour 48 minutes. The helicopter engine run time was 1 hour 35 minutes prior to losing power. The pilot's post accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the fuel load had been exhausted. He indicated in the accident report, under the section titled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," that he could have conducted "more planning on cross-country flights." ## Factual narrative On August 4, 2000, at 1724 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 47D helicopter, N39KH, was substantially damaged during an autorotative forced landing near Stockton, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The helicopter was registered to a private individual, and was operated by the pilot as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated from Fresno, California, at 1549, and was destined for Stockton. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan had not been filed. The pilot reported he had topped off the helicopter's fuel tank prior to departure. The total fuel capacity of the single-tank helicopter is 29 gallons. The pilot anticipated a fuel consumption of 16 g.p.h., and estimated he had approximately 1 hour 48 minutes of flight endurance available. After 1 hour 35 minutes of engine run time, the engine lost power while 2 miles from the destination airport. The pilot performed an autorotative landing to an open field. The skids contacted a berm on touchdown, and the helicopter began rocking. As the helicopter pitched fore and aft, the main rotor blades and tail rotor blades contacted the ground. The pilot reported that his post accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the fuel load had been exhausted. Surface temperatures along the route of flight were above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. He indicated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), under the section titled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," that he could have conducted "more planning on cross-country flights." The commercial pilot reported having had accumulated approximately 600 total rotorcraft flight hours, of which 40 hours were accumulated in the same make and model as the accident helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N39KH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39KH-2012-11-27), registration cancelled 2012-11-27, S/N 39, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47D - Registry model: [Bell 47D](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d) (registry code 1180702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 39 - Airframe hours: 3007 - Engines: Franklin 644-178-B32 178 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pablo M. Ejarque - Registered owner: Keith Harvey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2000, 19 hours before - Departed: FAT, Fresno, CA - Destination: SCK, Stockton Metro, CA - Airport: SCK, Stockton Metropolitan ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 10, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 1,600 total, 40 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SCK, 2 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 20000804009349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000804009349A), Aug 4, 2000: Stockton, CA, No damage. (-23) On Thursday August 3, 2000 pilot fueled aircraft to the maximum capacity of 29 gallons of fuel. At approximately 0600 hours the pilot flew from lodi… 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.