Bell 47G N473TT

Summary

On 15 June 2020 at about 01:30 local time, a Bell 47G registered N473TT, operated by A&F Aviation Services Llc, was involved in an accident near Atoka, Tennessee, 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

15 June 2020 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Atoka, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Burnett (59TN)

Coordinates

35.4133, -89.6531

Aircraft

Bell 47G

Registration

N473TT

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

A&F Aviation Services Llc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ERA20LA216

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to a blocked fuel line; the reason for the blockage could not be determined based on the available evidence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had conducted eight brief (7- to 8-minute) nonrevenue passenger flights uneventfully on the day of the accident. The helicopter was fueled before the eighth flight. During the ninth flight, the helicopter’s engine lost total power when the helicopter was about 1.5 miles north of the heliport and was descending through an altitude of 900 ft mean sea level. The pilot executed an autorotation and landed in a field. On touchdown, the main rotor blade struck the tailboom. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact malfunctions except for the fuel line to the carburetor, which had collapsed. A borsescope inspection revealed that light could not be observed through the fuel line. The borescope was then pushed through the fuel line, and no contaminates were found. A subsequent metallurgical examination of the fuel line revealed no blockages; no damage to the interior of the hose; and no evidence of kinks, creases, or material creep. The blocked fuel line likely resulted in the loss of engine power; however, the reason for the blockage could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.