# NTSB WPR18CA096: Bell 47G, N7800S, Pixley, CA, February 28, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 28, 2018, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Pixley, CA - Coordinates: 35.936389, -119.192497 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9364&lon=-119.1925&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 14, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 96804 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18CA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96804/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96804 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18CA096 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the pilot’s failure to ensure that adequate fuel was on board for the flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete the flight due to impending rain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Personality/attitude: motivation/respond to pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after landing and during the loading for the next chemical agricultural application flight with the engine running, he exited the helicopter to speak to the owner of the property he was spraying. He could not remember if he had instructed the ground crewman to fuel the helicopter or not. Additionally, the pilot stated that, before takeoff, he failed to check the fuel level and was unaware that the ground crewman had not refueled the helicopter. After takeoff and completing only one spray pass, the engine lost power. The pilot opined that he "just ran out of fuel." Unable to make it back to the loading area, he landed in a grove of trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot also mentioned that due to the approaching rain, he was in a hurry to get the field sprayed before it arrived. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the helicopter or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after landing and during the loading for the next chemical agricultural application flight with the engine running, he exited the helicopter to speak to the owner of the property he was spraying. He could not remember if he had instructed the ground crewman to fuel the helicopter or not. Additionally, the pilot stated that prior to takeoff he failed to check the fuel level and was unaware that the ground crewman had not refueled the helicopter. After takeoff and completing only one spray pass, the engine lost power. The pilot opined that he "just ran out of fuel." Unable to make it back to the loading area, he landed in a grove of trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the helicopter. The pilot also mentioned that due to the approaching rain, he was in a hurry to get the field sprayed before it arrived. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7800S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7800S), registered now, S/N 7854, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G (5) - Registry model: [Bell 47G-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (registry code 1181032) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 7854 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 10132 - Engines: Lycoming VO-435 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 2017 - Departed: Pixley, CA - Destination: Pixley, CA - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: serious; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 6, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 17,000 total, 17,000 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: PTV, 8 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 20180228009629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180228009629A), Feb 28, 2018: Bell 47G-5, Pixley, CA, Destroyed. On February 28, 2018, N7800S a Bell 47 helicopter operating under part 137 agriculture certificate was involved in an accident destroying the aircraft. During… ## Other investigations on N7800S (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 NYC68A0039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68A0039), Sep 1, 1967: Bell 47G-5 (N7800S), Westfield, ME, destroyed ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96804. 11.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 8.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462146&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Site Maps (item 2, .PDF, 991 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462147&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Maps-Master.PDF - Record of FAA Inspector's Pilot Interview (item 3, .PDF, 429 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462148&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 4, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo Array of Accident Site (item 5, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462150&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20of%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF 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.