Pilot Debrief

BELL-TRANSWORLD HELICOPTERS 47D1 near Archer City, TX — 2017-02-09

Final reportCEN17LA113
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Date
2017-02-09
Location
Archer City, TX, USA
Aircraft
BELL-TRANSWORLD HELICOPTERS 47D1
Registration
N2875F
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the pilot’s inadvertent positioning of the mixture control to the “fuel cutoff” position.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that he departed from his ranch and was flying about 100 ft above ground level and at 50 knots. He intended to position the carburetor heat to "on," but he inadvertently positioned the mixture control to the "fuel cutoff" position instead, and the engine lost total power. He immediately entered an autorotation, but because the helicopter was so low and slow, there was insufficient time and altitude to flare the helicopter. He stated that the airspeed decreased and that the main rotor blade stalled, which caused the helicopter to just "drop." The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's inadvertent positioning of the mixture control to the "fuel cutoff" position resulted in fuel starvation and the total loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked carburetor heat before adjusting mixture control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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