STOCKTON, CA, USA
N28938
BELL 47G4A
JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS WHILE TRANSPORTING AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT. A FRACTOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED FUEL DISCONNECT FITTING BY ANAMET LABORATORIES, CONCLUDED THAT APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE RETAINING RING ON THE FUEL DISCONNECT FITTING HAD FRACTURED BY METAL FATIGUE. THE FATIGUE CRACK WAS PRESENT PRIOR TO THE CRASH; HOWEVER, IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHETHER THE FRACTURE MAY HAVE CAUSED PARTIAL CLOSING OF THE DISCONNECT VALVE IN THE FITTING. THIS COULD CUT OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY DURING OPERATION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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