Bell 47D1 N59326

Summary

On 3 January 1998 at about 13:40 local time, a Bell 47D1 registered N59326, operated by Wing & Rotor International, was involved in an accident near Bunnell, Florida, United States. One person was 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

3 January 1998 at 13:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Bunnell, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Flagler County (X47)

Coordinates

29.4609, -81.2503

Aircraft

Bell 47D1

Registration

N59326

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Wing & Rotor International

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA98LA051

Nobody was injured.

the student pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.