# NTSB WPR23LA006: Bell 47G2, N24067, Mesa, AZ, October 1, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 1, 2022, 05:43 local (12:43 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ · Residential Street - Coordinates: 33.399798, -111.82771 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3998&lon=-111.8277&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106056 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106056/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106056 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA006 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1181002), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1181002), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level; cases with it: [Bell 47G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1181002), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Bell 47G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1181002), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Bell 47G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=1181002), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1181002), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Bell 47G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1181002), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bell 47G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1181002), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight about 2,300 ft mean sea level, the helicopter’s engine lost power and he initiated an autorotation and landed on a residential street. During the landing sequence, the pilot increased the collective to reduce the descent rate to clear obstacles, which resulted in a loss of rotor rpm and a hard landing that damaged the tail boom. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed a low amount of fuel in each tank. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not report how much fuel was onboard the helicopter at the time of departure, and the extent of his preflight fuel planning could not be determined. Based on the available information, it is likely that the engine lost total power as a result of fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On October 1, 2022, about 0543 mountain standard time, a Bell 47G helicopter, N24067, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mesa, Arizona. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, while returning back to the airport following a flight of about 1 hour, and while at an altitude about 2,300 ft mean sea level, the engine lost power and he initiated an autorotation and landed on a residential street. During the landing sequence, the pilot increased the collective to reduce the descent rate to clear obstacles (a tree and a pole), which resulted in the loss of rotor rpm and a subsequent hard landing, during which the tail boom sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed a low amount of fuel in each tank (about a minimum of 3 gallons). Law enforcement visually inspected the fuel tanks and observed less than one gallon of fuel in each tank. The helicopter’s fuel was carried in two gravity-fed tanks mounted on each side of the engine. The tanks’ total fuel capacity was 43 gallons, with 41 gallons of usable fuel. The pilot stated that there was “very little fuel in the tanks” following the accident and that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. The pilot did not report how much fuel was onboard the helicopter at the time of departure, and the extent of his preflight fuel planning could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24067](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N24067), registered now, S/N 1220, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G2 - Registry model: [Bell 47G](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g) (registry code 1181002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1220 - Year built: 1953 - Airframe hours: 7302.9 - Engines: LYCOMING VO-435 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 2022 - Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 19, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,085 total, 351 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.83 inHg - Observed at: KFFZ, 7 nm away - METAR: METAR KFFZ 011254Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/13 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP077 T02390133 ## 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 20221001021509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221001021509A), Oct 1, 2022: Bell 47G, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. The pilot departed chandler airport (chd) at 0445 after preflighting the aircraft. He then completed 3 night landings at (chd) heliport and then proceeded… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106056. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16173557&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Final_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16173181&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Rel.pdf - Bell 47-G2 fuel capacity (courtesy of tc holder-scotts bell 47 inc.) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16173191&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=47G-2-Model%20(Courtesy%20of%20TC%20holder%20Scotts%20Bell%2047%20Inc.)-Rel.pdf - Accident pictures (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 716 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16175933&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA006%20Accident%20Pictures-Rel.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.