ZILLAH, WA, USA
N41721
BELL 47G-2
THE ROTORCRAFT MADE A HARD LANDING AFTER COLLIDING WITH TREES DURING AN AUTOROTATION. THE ACFT HAD EXPERIENCED AN ENGINEFAILURE WHILE ON A REPOSITIONING FLIGHT BETWEEN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS AND WAS FORCED TO LAND. THE ACFT WAS AUTOROTATED INTO AN ORCHARD AND CONTACTED TREES, SUSTAINING SUBTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE SKIDS, MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND TAIL BOOM. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A TEMPORARY SITE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE MISHAP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FUEL CELLS WERE EMPTY BUT THE FUEL GAUGES SHOWED FUEL REMAINING. THE ACFT WAS FUELED WITH 22 GALLONS OF FUEL.THE GAUGES READ ONE QUARTER-LEFT,ONE HALF-RIGHT. THE SYSTEM WAS DRAINED EMPTY. THE GAUGES READ ONE EIGHTH-LEFT,ONE QUARTER-RIGHT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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