Bell 47G-2 accident near Willcox, Arizona, April 13, 1994
On April 13, 1994 at about 1:30 am local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N5827U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willcox, Arizona. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION AS A RESULT OF INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE FUEL AND FUEL SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1994 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Willcox, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N5827U · registry record · serial 2242
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A FLIGHT TO DEMONSTRATE HELICOPTER FLYING TECHNIQUES TO ERADICATE FROST FROM AN ORCHARD, THE HELICOPTER LOST ENGINE POWER ABOUT 15 FT AGL AND SETTLED INTO TREES. SAND-LIKE CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL, CARBURETOR FUEL BOWL, AND INTERNAL PASSAGES OF THE CARBURETOR.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 910 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,866 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1993; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Arizona Apple Company, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
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.