Accident Bell 47G-3B1 G-BGAI, Saturday 4 June 1983
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Date:Saturday 4 June 1983
Time:18:55 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic B47G model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Bell 47G-3B1
Owner/operator:Henderson Administration Ltd
Registration: G-BGAI
MSN: WA/420
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:0
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:Wappenham, 5 miles SE of Towcester, Northamptonshire -   United Kingdom
Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:Agricultural
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: AIB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
Written off (damaged beyond repair) 4.6.83: crashed inverted at Wappenham, five miles south-east of Towcester, Northamptonshire, whilst engaged in aerial (crop spraying) operations. The aircraft crashed inverted from an altitude of 4 feet due to engine failure.

Examination of the wreckage showed the the cause of the engine failure was due to fuel starvation, caused by the fuel tank detaching during a "wing-over manoeuvre". Although the fuel tank was not ruptured, there was a fuel leak, which ignited, starting small fire, which caused burn injuries to both of the pilots legs

Registration G-BGAI cancelled by the CAA as aircraft "destroyed" 23.1.84.

NOTE: G-BGAI was an ex-Army Air Corps Westland Sioux AH.1 XT508, with the c/no WA420. However, the c/no listed on the CAA documentation was "WAP/134"

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: AIB
Report number: 
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

1. http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/Bell%2047G%203B1%20G-BGAI%2010-83.pdf
2. http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-BGAI.pdf
3. http://www.ukserials.com/prodlists.php?type=1458
4. http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/accidentdetails.aspx?accidentkey=14446
5. http://www.ukserials.com/results.php?serial=XT

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
12-Jun-2014 20:21 Dr. John Smith Added
12-Jun-2014 21:12 Dr. John Smith Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total occupants, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Plane category, ]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

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