On June 28, 1987, a Bell 47G-5 (registration N6288N) was involved in an aviation accident near Salinas, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel supply for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter suffered substantial damage after the engine quit during transit from an aerial application operation, forcing an autorotative landing in a soft field.
What happened
The incident occurred while a helicopter was en route to the airport following the completion of an aerial application operation. During this phase of flight, the aircraft's engine ceased functioning unexpectedly. In response to the power loss, the pilot executed an autorotation maneuver to maintain control and descend safely. The helicopter was landed in a soft field. Upon touchdown, the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
Post-accident inspection of the helicopter revealed that the fuel tanks contained less than the usable amount of fuel required for operation. This finding indicates that the engine failure was likely due to fuel exhaustion rather than a mechanical malfunction.
Findings
The primary contributing factor to this accident was the pilot's decision to continue flight without ensuring adequate fuel reserves. The lack of usable fuel led directly to the engine quitting, necessitating the autorotative landing and resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel supply for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.