MALOTT, WA, USA
N73903
BELL 47G-3B-1
DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE PILOT TRIED TO MANEUVER TO AN OPEN AREA, HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED AN IN FLIGHT FIRE. IT WAS FOUND THAT A SECTION OF THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP CASING BROKE AWAY IN THE AREA WHERE THE FUEL LINE FITTING SCREWS INTO THE PUMP. DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE, USEFUL FACTURE TOPOGRAPHY TO DETERMINE THE MODE OF FAILURE WAS DESTROYED.
AN UNDETERMINED FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP CASING RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT FIRE AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
