Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1 accident near Archer City, Texas, February 9, 2017
On February 9, 2017 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1976 Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1, registered N2875F, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Archer City, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the pilot’s inadvertent positioning of the mixture control to the “fuel cutoff” position.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 2017 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Archer City, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell-Transworld Helicopters 47D1, built 1976
- Registration
- N2875F · no longer on the register · serial TWH-8
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that he departed from his ranch and was flying about 100 ft above ground level and at 50 knots. He intended to position the carburetor heat to "on," but he inadvertently positioned the mixture control to the "fuel cutoff" position instead, and the engine lost total power. He immediately entered an autorotation, but because the helicopter was so low and slow, there was insufficient time and altitude to flare the helicopter. He stated that the airspeed decreased and that the main rotor blade stalled, which caused the helicopter to just "drop." The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's inadvertent positioning of the mixture control to the "fuel cutoff" position resulted in fuel starvation and the total loss of engine power.
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
- Autorotation Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Unintentional use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 862 hours in all; 213 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 757 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 30, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,530.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V535A (piston); 840 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Holliday TX at 8:20 pm
- Destination: Holliday TX
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 7:42 pm from SPS, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Log | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.