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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

June 1, 1983 · Bell 47G3-B1 · N80711

Devils Tower, WY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 1, 1983
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Devils Tower, WY
Aircraft
Bell 47G3-B1
Tail Number
N80711
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN83LA132

The aircraft crash landed in trees after the engine lost power. The helicopter was being used in aerial application at the time of the accident. The operation was being done in 8 minute segments. Every 8 minutes the helicopter landed for a reload of herbicide. At about 1430-1500 hours the aircraft was refueled with 29 gallons of 100 octane fuel. At 1600 hours the engine ceased operation 3 minutes after a takeoff. The aircraft was at 50 ft AGL going about 30 mph. There was no clear area for a landing so the pilot autorotated into trees. The aircraft has an endurance of about one and one half hours. During the first interview the pilot said the aircraft ran out of fuel. No fuel was aboard the aircraft after the accident. The pilot later found an AN fitting was loose on the gas tank sump drain. He said it was not leaking when the aircraft was refueled. The pilot found an area of leaked fuel which he estimated at 5 gallons near the sump drain. The aircraft has only one fuel tank and it contains 2 unusable gallons of fuel.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT CRASH LANDED IN TREES AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED IN AERIAL APPLICATION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE OPERATION WAS BEING DONE IN 8 MINUTE SEGMENTS. EVERY 8 MINUTES THE HELICOPTER LANDED FOR A RELOAD OF HERBICIDE. AT ABOUT 1430-1500 HOURS THE ACFT WAS REFUELED WITH 29 GALLONS OF 100 OCTANE FUEL. AT 1600 HOURS THE ENGINE CEASED OPERATION 3 MINUTES AFTER A TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS AT 50 FT AGL GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. THERE WAS NO CLEAR AREA FOR A LANDING SO THE PILOT AUTOROTATED INTO TREES. THE ACFT HAS AN ENDURANCE OF ABOUT ONE AND ONE HALF HOURS. DURING THE FIRST INTERVIEW THE PILOT SAID THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. NO FUEL WAS ABOARD THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT LATER FOUND AN AN FITTING WAS LOOSE ON THE GAS TANK SUMP DRAIN. HE SAID IT WAS NOT LEAKING WHEN THE ACFT WAS REFUELED. THE PILOT FOUND AN AREA OF LEAKED FUEL WHICH HE ESTIMATED AT 5 GALLONS NEAR THE SUMP DRAIN. THE ACFT HAS ONLY ONE FUEL TANK AND IT CONTAINS 2 UNUSABLE GALLONS OF FUEL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 47G3-B1
Tail NumberN80711
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IVO-435 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 36 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 5 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data