Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fayette, Mississippi 39069
Thursday, April 2, 1992 14:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

PLT STATED THAT HE TOPPED THE FUEL TANKS TO THE 29 GALLON LEVEL PRIOR TO FLIGHT. ONE HOUR AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENG QUIT. HE STATED THE FUEL STRAINER DRAIN HAD LEAKED CAUSING FUEL EXHAUSTION AND LOSS OF POWER. TWO FAA INSPECTORS WHO INSPECTED THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PRE OR POST CRASH FUEL LEAKAGE. THE FUEL STRAINER DRAIN VALVE WAS FOUND TO OPERATE NORMALLY WITH NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMANDS FAILURE TO INSURE THE PROPER FUEL QUANTITY FOR THE FLIGHT WAS PLACED ON THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS FAILURE TO MONITOR FUEL QUANTITY DURING FLIGHT RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/2/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City FAYETTE
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39069
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 4
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID JAN
Elevation of weather observation facility 341
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 31
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 13000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 50
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45937
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N322A
NTSB Number MIA92LA102
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47-D-1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47-D-1
Aircraft Serial Number WH1001
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 21 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 4841
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DARRE J. WARD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 589 HWY 40W
Aircraft Owner City PRATTVILLE
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36067
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DARRE J. WARD
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 589 HWY 40W
Operator City PRATTVILLE
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 36067
Operator Code KEOG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
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 --