Accident Bell 47G-5 N7841S, Monday 17 May 1982

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Date:	Monday 17 May 1982
Time:	09:35 LT
Type:	Bell 47G-5
Owner/operator:	Clarke Outdoor Spraying
Registration:	N7841S
MSN:	7862
Year of manufacture:	1967
Total airframe hrs:	5042 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming VO-435-B1A
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Sublette, IL - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:	Sublette, IL
Destination airport:	Sublette, IL
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN FLOWN ABOUT 1 HR FROM ROSELLE TO SUBLETTE, IL, THEN IT WAS FLOWN ANOTHER 1/2 HR TO SURVEY THE AREA TO BE SPRAYED. ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING TO SPRAY, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT STARTED AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING TO A ROAD. HOWEVER, DUE TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND BEYOND THE ROADWAY, BUT THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A GUARD RAIL AND CAME TO REST IN A LAKE. ACCORDING TO COMPANY PERSONNEL, FUEL EXHAUSTION HAD OCCURRED. THE HELICOPTER HAD NOT BEEN REFUELED AFTER DEPARTING ROSELLE.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: