# NTSB MIA98LA051: Bell 47D1, N59326, Bunnell, FL, January 3, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 3, 1998, 08:40 local (13:40 UTC) - Place: Bunnell, FL - Coordinates: 29.460895, -81.250267 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4609&lon=-81.2503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38441 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38441/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA051 ## Probable cause the student pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis The student pilot was on a supervised solo flight in the traffic pattern, practicing landings and takeoffs. At an altitude of about 300 feet above the airport, the helicopter's engine lost power. The student autorotated to an open field, and the helicopter was damaged during a forced landing. The student said when he checked the fuel gauge during preflight, it indicated '5/8' of a tank, which was confirmed by a 'dip stick test.' When he next checked the fuel gauge after doing some pattern work, it indicated '3/8' tank. According to an FAA Inspector's statement, '...the fuel tank was drained and less than 12 ounces of fuel remained in the undamaged fuel tank...no other maintenance discrepancies were found which may have contributed to the accident.' The flight was about 1 hour and 10 minutes in duration. ## Factual narrative On January 3, 1998, about 0840 eastern standard time, a Bell 47D1 helicopter, N59326, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91, local instructional flight, crashed during a forced landing near Bunnell, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The student pilot was not injured. The flight originated about 0730. The student pilot was on a solo flight in the traffic pattern, practicing landings and takeoffs when the engine lost power. The pilot autorotated to an open field. The pilot said when he checked "the fuel indicator [it] was on 5/8 tank (sic), which was confirmed by the dip stick test." When he next checked the fuel gauge after doing some pattern work, it indicated "3/8 tank (sic)." According to the FAA Inspector's statement, the student pilot was on a supervised instructional flight, and at an altitude of about 300 feet above the airport the helicopter's "engine stopped." The inspector stated, "...the fuel tank was drained and less then 12 ounces of fuel remained in the undamaged fuel tank...no other maintenance discrepancies were found which may have contributed to the accident." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59326](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59326-2005-06-15), registration cancelled 2005-06-15, S/N 45, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47D1 - Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 45 - Airframe hours: 5589 - Engines: Franklin 6V4 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wing & Rotor International - Registered owner: S&J Investment - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 17, 1997, 23 hours before - Airport: X47, Flagler County, runway 29, 5,000 × 110 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 39 total, 37 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAB ## 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 19980103000069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980103000069A), Jan 3, 1998: Bell 47D1, Bunnell, FL, Substantial damage. Engine stopped 300FT AGL. Dropped to ground. Fuel exhaustion. (-23) helicopter sustained substantial damage, after student pilot on unsupervised solo made… ## Other investigations on N59326 (1) 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 NYC79FGT17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FGT17), Jun 19, 1979: Bell 47D-1 (N59326), Hanover, PA, substantial 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.