Bell 47G-3B-1 N2618W

Summary

On 23 February 2024 at about 15:40 local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 registered N2618W, operated by English Air Service LLC, was involved in an accident near Garey, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 February 2024 at 15:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Garey, California, United States

Nearest airport

Santa Maria (SMX)

Coordinates

34.8950, -120.3222

Aircraft

Bell 47G-3B-1

Registration

N2618W

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

English Air Service LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Santa Maria → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24LA093

1 person had minor injuries.

Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly check the torque paint on a fuel control unit B-nut, which resulted in the loosening of the B-nut, a loss of engine power at a low altitude, and a subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the helicopter was applying a chemical to a field when the engine sustained a loss of power. The pilot entered an autorotation and the helicopter descended to the terrain, where it rolled onto its right side substantially damaging the main rotor system and severing the tailboom. Postaccident examination of the pneumatic air lines revealed that there was a slight air leak at the accumulator and a large air leak at a pneumatic air line (Pc) between the power turbine governor (PTG) and the fuel control unit (FCU); the Pc line was not connected to the FCU. The B-nut connecting the Pc line to the FCU had backed off, allowing the Pc line to become disconnected. . This Pc line is one of several lines that use air pressure to communicate fuel scheduling commands between the PTG and the FCU. The security of this line is necessary for proper engine operation. Engine operation without the Pc line properly connected would result in the FCU reducing fuel to a sub-idle condition, preventing the engine from producing sufficient power for continued flight. No other preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. Maintenance was performed on the helicopter 15 days and 29.2 flight hours before the accident that included checking all B-nuts for torque paint to ensure adequate torque remained on the B-nuts. Maintenance personnel likely did not properly inspect the condition of the torque paint on the affected B-nut, which resulted in a disconnection of the B-nut from the FCU and a total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.