Bell 47G2 accident near Mesa, Arizona, October 1, 2022
On October 1, 2022 at about 12:43 pm local time, a 1953 Bell 47G2 (helicopter), registered N24067, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Mesa, Arizona. 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 total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 2022 · about 12:43 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G2, built 1953 · all 47G2s on the register
- Registration
- N24067 · registry record · serial 1220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight about 2,300 ft mean sea level, the helicopter’s engine lost power and he initiated an autorotation and landed on a residential street. During the landing sequence, the pilot increased the collective to reduce the descent rate to clear obstacles, which resulted in a loss of rotor rpm and a hard landing that damaged the tail boom. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed a low amount of fuel in each tank. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not report how much fuel was onboard the helicopter at the time of departure, and the extent of his preflight fuel planning could not be determined. Based on the available information, it is likely that the engine lost total power as a result of fuel exhaustion.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Autorotation Off-field or emergency landing
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Response/compensation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Pole › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,085 hours in all; 351 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 19, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,302.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CHD Chandler AZ at 11:45 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 am from KFFZ, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFFZ 011254Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/13 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP077 T02390133
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 25, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Bell 47-G2 Fuel Capacity (Courtesy of Tc Holder-scotts Bell 47 Inc.) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 2 pages | 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.