Bell 47G3B1 N304JD
7 May 1991 · Yuma, Arizona, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 7 May 1991 at about 03:15 local time, a Bell 47G3B1 registered N304JD, operated by Sundown Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Yuma, Arizona, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 03:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Yuma, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Yuma Int'l (YUM)
- Coordinates
- 32.6831, -114.6593
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G3B1
- Registration
- N304JD
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Sundown Helicopters, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Yuma → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA193
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A BELL 47G3B1 LOST POWER AND COLLIDED WITH TREES IN AN ORCHARD. THE HELICOPTER HAD COMPLETED AERIAL SPRAYING OF 60 ACRES OF CITRUS TREES. AT THE END LAST PASS THE ENGINE QUIT AT TREE TOP LEVEL. THE PILOT AUTOROTATED THE HELICOPTER INTO THE TREES. THE DURATION OF THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT ONE HOUR AND 45 MINUTES. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THE HELICOPTER CONTAINED 25 GALLONS OF FUEL AT THE LAST TAKEOFF. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE HELICOPTER FUEL SYSTEM WAS EXAMINED BY THE OPERATOR. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT LESS THAN ONE GALLON OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE HELICOPTER BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47G3B1 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jun 1991 | Bell 47G3B1 | Lasalle, Minnesota, United States | Tery JON Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1990 | Bell 47G3B1 | Coon Rapids, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Apr 1992 | Bell 47G3B1 | Miltonfreewater, Oregon, United States | R. Gary Knight | No injuries | - |
| 15 Nov 1993 | Bell 47G3B1 | Mesa, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Aug 1994 | Bell 47G3B1 | Sargeant, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 May 1988 | Bell 47G3B1 | Cove Gap, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jul 1991 | Grumman G-164B | Arizona City, Arizona, United States | Al-Don Dusting SVC., Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Jul 1991 | Cessna 177 | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Michael P. Turner | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Sedona, Arizona, United States | Aerovision, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Eagle DW1 | Poston, Arizona, United States | Michael Morris | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1991 | Experimental DSA-1 | Kingman, Arizona, United States | James D. Janson | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 1991 | Cessna 402C | Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States | Sierra Nevada Airways | No injuries | - |