# Accident 19970812021809A: Bell 47G2, Mojave, CA, August 12, 1997 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 12, 1997, 10:00 local time - Place: Mojave, CA - Airport: Mojave - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 35.0706° N, 118.1796° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0706&lon=-118.1796&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9021R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9021R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bell-Continental Copters 47G2 (registry code 1181069, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-continental-copters-47g2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (registry code 42200, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-a1f) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G2 - Reported engine: LYC VO435A1F - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 3,273 total, 101 in this make and model, 88 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA285) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970812021809A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON AUGUST 12, 1997, AT 1000 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 47G2, N9021R, LA NED HARD ON RUNWAY 4 AT THE MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA AIRPORT. THE LOCAL AREA INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED BY NATIONAL TEST PILOT SCHOOL OF MOJAVE. VISAUL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, INCLUDING CALM WINDS, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND DUAL STUDENT ONBOARD WERE NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT MOJAVE ABOUT 0930 ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THE DUAL STUDENT HAD A FIXED WING PILOT CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY A FOREIGN COUNTRY, BUT NO PRIOR ROTORCRAFT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. THE INSTUCTOR REPORTED THAT DURING THEIR PATTERN WORK, HE WAS "GUARDING THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WHILE THE LEFT SEAT PILOT WAS FLYING" HE FURTHER REPORTED THAT ON THE THIRD PATTERN THE STUDENT THEN RAISED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL SLIGHTLY WITHOUT ADDING ADDITIONAL THROTTLE. AS THE INSTRUCTOR REACHED FOR TEH THROTTLE, THE STUDENT QUICKLY RAISED THE COLLECTIVE WITHOUT ANY OTHER ACTION. THE AIRCRAFT YAWED TO THE RIGHT, AND THE ROTOR RPM DECREASED EVEN FURTHER. THE STUDENT THE APPLIED A REARWARD CYCLIC INPUT IN AN ATTEMPT TO FLARE THE AIRCRAFT. THE TAIL ROTOR THE STRUCK THE GROUND, DESTORYING THE TAIL ROTOR AND SHEARING THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A RIGHT TURN AND THE SKIDS COLLAPSED. THE INSTUCTOR REPORTED THAT DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHILE CALLING FOR THE STUDENT TO RELEASE THE CONTROLS. ## 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 LAX97LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA285), Aug 12, 1997: Bell 47G2 (N9021R), Mojave, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student's improper use of the throttle and collective controls and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Other reports on N9021R (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20120101000549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120101000549A), Jan 1, 2012: Bell-Continental Copters Inc. 47G2 (N9021R), Lohn, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he did a pre flight inspection per the operator's manual, loaded his passenger for the purpose of pasture count of deer on hunting leases. On the… - [Accident 19981211033299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981211033299A), Dec 11, 1998: Bell 47G2 (N9021R), Helendale, CA, Substantial damage. (.19)On December 11, 1998, at 1645 hours pacific standard time, a Bell 47G2, N9021R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Helendale,… - [Incident 19830206007729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830206007729I), Feb 6, 1983: Bell 47G2 (N9021R), Corona, CA, Minor damage. Pilot had yaw problems during hovering. Found tail rotor drive shaft failed. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.