19870708034359A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 47D1 · Huntsville, AL · July 8, 1987

Date: July 8, 1987 · 12:30 local
Place: Huntsville, AL
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: RXCG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N908B
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL87LA204
Reported as: Bell 47D1
Reported engine: Lycoming VO435*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,550 total700 in this make and model300 in the last 90 days

N908BRegistered now · Bell 47D1S/N 479 · Built 1952 Airframe modelBell 47D1 Engine modelFranklin 6V4 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The agricultural spray helicopter settled into crops during a downwind turn. Pilot failed to maintain rotor speed.

As the FAA filed it

THE AGRICULTURAL SPRAY HELICOPTER SETTLED INTO CROPS DURING A DOWNWIND TURN. PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ROTOR SPEED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ATL87LA204Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHuntsville, ALThe aerial application flight was dispensing insecticides on a cotton field. While maneuvering to avoid powerlines during the procedure turnaround following an upwind swath run, the pilot failed to maintain sufficient airspeed to ensure effective…Jul 8, 1987 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N908B · 6

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19970811021649ALow Level Operations · Holcomb, MSHelicopter was involved in aerial application, hit a telephone line and landed in a field.(.4) the pilot stated the cotton field he was going to spray with insecticide was lined with utility lines. He circled the field `2 or 3 times to locate obstructions',…Aug 11, 1997 · Substantial damage Accident 19940913026889ATo Aborted (Fixed Wing) · Hazel Green, ALAborted takeoff for unknown condition. Tried slide landing in tall grass skid caught cotton. Broke. Rolled over.Sep 13, 1994 · Substantial damage Accident 19890512011449AForced/Precautionary Landing · Shelbyville, TNLoud bang engine RPM at red line. Shut down but too low for autorotation. Impact chopped tailboom. No cause given.May 12, 1989 · Substantial damage Accident 19790901023879ALow Level Operations · Hahira, GALost control of helicopter due to binding fore and aft power cylinder. Situation called for more pressure by pilot.Sep 1, 1979 · Substantial damage Accident 19770702017889AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Berlin, GASimplex P/N3630224 failed.Jul 2, 1977 · Substantial damage Accident 19760604014829ALow Level Operations · Sublette, KSWheat entangled in the skids-pulled acft into ground.Jun 4, 1976 · Substantial damage