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NTSB Final Report: Chamblee, GA

Location:

Chamblee, Georgia

Accident Number:

ERA25LA156

Date & Time:

March 21, 2025, 15:53 Local

Registration:

N5QV

Aircraft:

Bell 206

Aircraft Damage:

Substantial

Defining Event:

Fuel exhaustion

Injuries:

1 Serious, 1 Minor

Flight Conducted Under:

Part 91: General aviation - Aerial observation

 

 

Analysis

The pilot of the electronic news gathering helicopter reported that he departed the airport on a preplanned flight to obtain video footage at four locations. After filming the four locations, but before returning to the airport, the pilot was contacted via radio about filming a fifth location due to breaking news. While over the fifth location, the cockpit fuel pump caution light illuminated, and the pilot noticed a low fuel level but elected to return to the airport rather than land at a nearby city helipad. While over the airport ramp area at 100 to 150 ft above ground level, the engine “hiccupped” and then lost all power. The pilot attempted an autorotation, but the helicopter landed hard on the ramp area. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The inspector also noted that the fuel tanks were absent of fuel and the cockpit fuel gauge needle was below “E.”

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during approach due to fuel exhaustion.

Findings

Personnel issues Fuel planning - Pilot

Aircraft Fuel - Not specified

Factual Information

History of Flight

Approach Fuel exhaustion (Defining event)

Approach Loss of engine power (total)

Autorotation Hard landing

Pilot Information

Certificate:

Commercial

Age:

35,Male

Airplane Rating(s):

None

Seat Occupied:

Right

Other Aircraft Rating(s):

Helicopter

Restraint Used:

3-point

Instrument Rating(s):

None

Second Pilot Present:

No

Instructor Rating(s):

None

Toxicology Performed:

 

Medical Certification:

Class 2 Without

Last FAA Medical Exam:

April 30, 2024

 

waivers/limitations

 

 

Occupational Pilot:

Yes

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

February 9, 2024

Flight Time:

2783 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1030 hours (Total, this make and model), 2706 hours (Pilot In

 

Command, all aircraft), 70 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 19 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft),

 

0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

 

 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make:

Bell

Registration:

N5QV

Model/Series:

206 B

Aircraft Category:

Helicopter

Year of Manufacture:

 

Amateur Built:

 

Airworthiness Certificate:

Normal

Serial Number:

3098

Landing Gear Type:

High skid

Seats:

5

Date/Type of Last

March 17, 2025 Continuous

Certified Max Gross Wt.:

3200 lbs

Inspection:

airworthiness

 

 

Time Since Last Inspection:

 

Engines:

1 Turbo shaft

Airframe Total Time:

15216 Hrs as of last

Engine Manufacturer:

Allison

 

inspection

 

 

ELT:

Installed

Engine Model/Series:

250-C20J

Registered Owner:

HELICOPTERS INC

Rated Power:

420 Horsepower

Operator:

HELICOPTERS INC

Operating Certificate(s)

None

 

 

Held:

 

Operator Does Business As:

WSB-TV 2

Operator Designator Code:

 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:

Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light:

Day

Observation Facility, Elevation:

KPDK,979 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site:

0 Nautical Miles

Observation Time:

15:53 Local

Direction from Accident Site:

Lowest Cloud Condition:

Clear

Visibility

10 miles

Lowest Ceiling:

None

Visibility (RVR):

 

Wind Speed/Gusts:

7 knots / None

Turbulence Type

None / None

 

 

Forecast/Actual:

 

Wind Direction:

290°

Turbulence Severity

N/A / N/A

 

 

Forecast/Actual:

 

Altimeter Setting:

30.08 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point:

16°C / -7°C

Precipitation and Obscuration:

No Obscuration; No Precipitation

 

Departure Point:

Chamblee, GA

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

None

Destination:

Chamblee, GA

Type of Clearance:

None

Departure Time:

 

Type of Airspace:

Class D

Airport Information

Airport:

Dekalb-Peachtree Airport PDK

Runway Surface Type:

 

Airport Elevation:

998 ft msl

Runway Surface Condition:

 

Runway Used:

 

IFR Approach:

None

Runway Length/Width:

 

VFR Approach/Landing:

Forced landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries:

1

Serious

Aircraft Damage:

Substantial

Passenger

1 Minor

Aircraft Fire:

None

Injuries:

 

 

 

 

Ground Injuries:

 

 

Aircraft Explosion:

None

Total Injuries:

1

Serious, 1 Minor

Latitude,

33.876002,-84.302031

 

 

 

Longitude:

 

Administrative Information

Investigator In Charge (IIC):

Gretz, Robert

Additional Participating

Joe Howard; FAA/FSDO; Atlanta, GA

Persons:

Jean-Pierre Regnier; TSB Canada; Ottawa, OF

Original Publish Date:

July 3, 2025

Last Revision Date:

 

 

Investigation Class:

Class 4

Note:

The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Investigation Docket:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199910

 

 

 

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in other modes of transportation— railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents and events we investigate, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. In addition, we conduct transportation safety research studies and offer information and other assistance to family members and survivors for each accident or event we investigate. We also serve as the appellate authority for enforcement actions involving aviation and mariner certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Coast Guard, and we adjudicate appeals of civil penalty actions taken by the FAA.

The NTSB does not assign fault or blame for an accident or incident; rather, as specified by NTSB regulation, “accident/incident investigations are fact-finding proceedings with no formal issues and no adverse parties … and are not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person” (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 831.4). Assignment of fault or legal liability is not relevant to the NTSB’s statutory mission to improve transportation safety by investigating accidents and incidents and issuing safety recommendations. In addition, statutory language prohibits the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report (Title 49 United States Code section 1154(b)). A factual report that may be admissible under 49 United States Code section 1154(b) is available here.

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