# Accident 19960526011639A: Bell 47J, Leander, TX, May 26, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 26, 1996, 17:10 local time
- Place: Leander, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.3791° N, 97.9501° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3791&lon=-97.9501&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8412E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8412E-2013-10-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47J (registry code 1181102, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47J
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,746 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW96LA229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA229) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960526011639A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOT ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON SHORE OF LAKE, HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A DOWNDRAFT AND CRASHED. (.4)ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE FLYING APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL OVER A LAKE, HE 'FELT A PUSH/CROSS WIND (WIND SHEAR).' HE STATED THAT, 'IT FELT AS IF IT WERE PUSHING ME INTO THE GROUND.' HE THEN LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND 'ADDED' FORWARD CYCLIC TO INCREASE FORWARD AIRSPEED. AFTER SELECTING A LANDING SITE, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CONTROL THE DESCENT BUT, 'NOTHING WAS WORKING' AND THE HELICOPTER 'WAS GOING DOWN FAST.' JUST PRIOR TO LANDING, THE PILOT 'FLARED WITH COLLECTIVE FULL UP TO LIGHTEN THE IMPACT.' THE  TAIL BOOM WAS STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED DURING THE LANDING DUE TO IMPACT WITH A LARGE ROCK ADJACENT TO THE LANDING SITE. THE PILOT REPORTED 20 KNOT WINDS, GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS. HE STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A QUARTERING HEAD WIND DURING HIS APPROACH TO THE LANDING SITE.  ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE REPORTED WIND COMPONENT ENCOUNTERED WOULD NOT HAVE EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY OF THE HELICOPTER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, GROSS WEIGHT LIMITATIONS WE                                                                                                                                      RE NOT EXCEEDED DURING THE FLIGHT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW96LA229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA229), May 26, 1996: Bell 47J (N8412E), Lakeway, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate prior to landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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