- Date
- April 12, 1994, 18:30 local (Apr 13, 1994, 01:30 UTC)
- Place
- Willcox, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5827UBell 47G-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 3, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940412000719A
- Case key
- 28717
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Engine power loss due to fuel contamination as a result of inadequate inspection of the fuel and fuel system.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During a flight to demonstrate helicopter flying techniques to eradicate frost from an orchard, the helicopter lost engine power about 15 ft AGL and settled into trees. Sand-like contamination was found in the fuel, carburetor fuel bowl, and internal passages of the carburetor.
Factual narrative
On April 12, 1994, about 1830 hours Mountain standard time, a Bell G-2, N5827U, collided with trees after a loss of engine power while maneuvering over an apple orchard about 19 miles north of Willcox, Arizona. The helicopter was being operated by Arizona Apple Company, Inc., Willcox, Arizona, as a business flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The helicopter was substantially damaged, and the two certificated commercial pilots were not injured. The local flight originated from the operator's facilities 1810 hours. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
The purpose of the flight was to demonstrate helicopter flying techniques to eradicate frost from the orchard. The pilots reported the helicopter lost power while flying about 15 feet above an apple orchard. The helicopter subsequently settled into trees.
Examination of the helicopter's fuel system by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed sand-like debris in the fuel samples and the engine carburetor fuel bowl. The mechanic disassembled the carburetor and found the same debris throughout the internal passages.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5827U
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2242
- Airframe hours
- 6,866
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1F, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Arizona Apple Company, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Agrinvest
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1993 · 62 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 21
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 910 total · 300 in this make and model · 850 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.