Bell 47G-2A accident near Covert, Michigan, August 11, 2009
On August 11, 2009 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2A (helicopter), registered N9526, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Covert, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of blocked fuel vents.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2009 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Covert, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2A · all 47G-2As on the register
- Registration
- N9526 · registry record · serial 1288-16
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot topped off the fuel tanks prior to takeoff. Approximately two hours later, a loss of engine power was experienced. The pilot performed an autorotation to a field; however, the tail rotor contacted a 4x4 wooden post during the landing. This resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom. Inspection of the helicopter revealed the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank was full. Inspection of the fuel system revealed the right tank fuel vent was completely blocked by mud dauber debris along with the remains of two mud daubers. The left fuel tank vent was partially blocked by mud dauber debris. Both tanks feed to a central line which provides fuel to the engine. In addition, the nut on the T-fitting from the left tank fuel line was found finger tight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Hoses and tubes › Inadequate inspection
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Malfunction
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 772 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 556 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,294 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 7, 2008; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RZL Rensselaer IN at 5:00 pm
- Destination: MI80 Greenville MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BEH, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N9526 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.