# NTSB LAX98LA001: Bell 47G-2, N2483B, Burbank, CA, October 3, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 1997, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Burbank, CA - Coordinates: 34.189636, -118.290802 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1896&lon=-118.2908&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 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29969 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29969/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA001 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Hard landing, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The pilot reported he noticed an increased rate in fuel consumption and the engine sputtered then stopped completely. He made a forced landing to a golf course and the tail boom made contact with the ground. The pilot initially reported to an FAA inspector that he had run out of fuel, but later rescinded that statement and showed the inspector metal chips that he said he found in the fuel strainer. Following recovery, the helicopter was moved to an undisclosed location and the airframe and engine had been disassembled for repair. In his written report, the pilot stated that he left Long Beach with 15 total gallons of fuel onboard the helicopter, and that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The fuel system has 2 unusable gallons. ## Factual narrative On October 3, 1997, at 1500 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bell 47G-2, N2483B, experienced a loss of engine power and struck the tail boom during a forced landing onto uneven terrain at a golf course 4 miles south of the Burbank, California, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed along the route of flight and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight originated at the Long Beach, California, airport at 1440, and was en route to Burbank at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview, the pilot noticed an increase in the rate of fuel consumption. He reported that the engine started to sputter then stopped completely. The pilot entered into an autorotation and landed on a golf course. The tail rotor blades then made contact with the ground. The tail boom was bent and the fuselage frame distorted. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Van Nuys, California, Flight Standards District Office, the pilot initially reported to him that he had run out of fuel. Later, the pilot rescinded his statement about running out of fuel and instead showed the inspector some metal chips that he said he had found in the fuel strainer. In his written accident report, the pilot stated that he departed the Long Beach airport with 15 gallons of fuel onboard. The unusable fuel in the tanks is 2 gallons. The pilot expressed to the Safety Board that because of a previous dispute with the FAA, he did not want them present during the investigation and subsequently moved the helicopter to a location he refused to disclose. By the time the Safety Board had ascertained the location of the helicopter, the airframe and engine had been disassembled for repair. No further examination of the aircraft was possible. Review of the FAA Aircraft Registry files for the helicopter discloses that a Restricted Airworthiness Certificate was issued on April 4, 1978, for agriculture and pest control. The airframe and engine had recently been rebuilt by the pilot's father about 6 months prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2483B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2483B-2011-02-07), registration cancelled 2011-02-07, S/N 1459, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G-2 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1459 - Airframe hours: 7452 - Engines: Lycoming VO-435-A1F 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John A. Ochwatt - Registered owner: Joseph P. Calta Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1997 - Departed: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA - Destination: BUR, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 105 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 10 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BUR ## 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 19971003037629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971003037629A), Oct 3, 1997: Bell 47G2, Burbank, CA, Substantial damage. Engine quit. Struck tail during autoration to golf course. Fuel tanks empty. ## Other investigations on N2483B (5) 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 LAX02LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA218), Jul 7, 2002: Bell 47G-2 (N2483B), Compton, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure and separation of a fan belt for the engine cooling system. A factor in the accident was the inadequate annual inspection 14 hours prior to the accident. - [NTSB SEA76FYG53](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76FYG53), Jun 9, 1976: Bell 47G-2 (N2483B), Eltopia, WA, destroyed - [NTSB SEA71FWG17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA71FWG17), Sep 9, 1970: Bell 47G-2 (N2483B), Wenatchee, WA, substantial damage - [NTSB SEA65A0047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA65A0047), Mar 13, 1965: Bell 47G-2 (N2483B), Wenatchee, WA, destroyed - [NTSB UNK64X3325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3325), Aug 11, 1964: Bell B-47G2 (N2483B), Monitor, WA, incident, no damage 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.