Bell 47G-3B-1 N1335X

Summary

On 16 June 1997 at about 19:28 local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 registered N1335X, operated by U.s. Dept. of the Interior, was involved in an accident near Fallon, Nevada, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 June 1997 at 19:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Fallon, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

39.4996, -118.2897

Aircraft

Bell 47G-3B-1

Registration

N1335X

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

U.s. Dept. of the Interior

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97TA213

Nobody was injured.

exhaustion of the aircraft's fuel supply, due to improper planning and/or decision. A factor related to the accident was the high density altitude which made a successful autorotative landing unlikely.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The engine of the helicopter lost power after about 3 hours of flying. An autorotative descent was made to a site at 6,500 feet density altitude, and the helicopter was damaged during the landing. After the accident, 1.9 gallons of fuel were drained from the entire fuel system. The helicopter's unusable fuel quantity was 2.5 gallons. Examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of a preaccident mechanical malfunction or failure. A manufacturer's representative opined that an autorotative landing at 6,500 feet density altitude would likely result in a hard landing. The engine carburetor flow tested within the manufacturer's specifications.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.