Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Baldwin, Illinois 62217
Wednesday, June 15, 1994 8:05 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOTS WERE EN ROUTE TO THE ST. LOUIS AREA TO RECEIVE DUAL INSTRUCTION IN THE HELICOPTER. WITNESSES STATED THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING AT LOW ALTITUDE (ESTIMATED 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND) WHEN ENGINE SPUTTERED, THEN QUIT COMPLETELY. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO A WOODED AREA. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL FILTER BOWL WAS LOOSE, AND THERE WAS NO SAFETY WIRE ON THE FUEL FILTER LOCK SCREW. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF USEABLE FUEL IN THE HELICOPTER OR AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. LOGBOOK RECORDS INDICATE THE MOST RECENT MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE MOST RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION OCCURRED 8 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE HELICOPTER HAD OPERATED ABOUT 10 HOURS AND 84 HOURS, RESPECTIVELY, SINCE THOSE MAINTENANCE ACTIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The inadequate maintenance (inspection of aircraft) by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Related factors are the unsafetied fuel filter, and low altitude at which the helicopter operated.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/15/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 805
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BALDWIN
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62217
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1378
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 15 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1820
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:27AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4992G
NTSB Number CHI94FA202
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47G2
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G2
Aircraft Serial Number 2453
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 27 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 84
Airframe Hours 8198
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIRCRAFT SERVICES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address SOUTH MEADOW, BOX 484
Aircraft Owner City ROYALTON
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62983
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City ROYALTON
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 62983
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MDH
Departure City CARBONDALE
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 731
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SUS
Destination City CHESTERFIELD
Destination State MO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --