Bell 47G N4823

Summary

On 30 May 2009 at about 17:00 local time, a Bell 47G registered N4823, operated by Michael E. Mollere Lamm Ranch, was involved in an accident near Kyle, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 May 2009 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Kyle, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

San Marcos Municipal Airport (HYI)

Coordinates

29.9394, -97.8081

Aircraft

Bell 47G

Registration

N4823

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Michael E. Mollere Lamm Ranch

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kyle → Kyle

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09LA324

1 person was seriously injured.

The ground crewmember's failure to assure that the fuel nozzle was closed before pressurizing the line. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an available fire extinguisher.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was belted in the left pilot seat with the helicopter’s engine and rotor system operating at ground idle. The ground crewmember was attempting to “hot refuel” the helicopter’s left fuel tank when he noticed that fuel was not flowing from the nozzle. The ground crewmember removed the nozzle from the fuel tank and placed it on the running helicopter’s chemical tank. The ground crewmember then dismounted from the helicopter and went to a kinked portion of the refueling hose. As he straightened the kinked hose, the nozzle immediately began spraying gasoline on the engine and the pilot before subsequently igniting. Fuel spray from the nozzle continued for several seconds and then stopped. The pilot exited the helicopter unassisted and extinguished the flames by slapping his body and arms with his hands. The ground crewmember assisted by pouring water on the seriously injured pilot and then calling for help. A fire extinguisher was not installed on either the helicopter or the refueling truck, and no attempts were made to extinguish the fire on the helicopter until emergency response firefighters arrived on scene.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.