# Accident 19980829022379A: Bell 47D1, Dawson, GA, August 29, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 29, 1998, 10:00 local time
- Place: Dawson, GA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 31.7719° N, 84.4435° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dawson, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7719&lon=-84.4435&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4702S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4702S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47D1 (registry code 1180802, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 800 total, 800 in this make and model, 550 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA230) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980829022379A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER WAS INVOLVED IN AERIAL APPLICATION AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A TRUCK FOR REFUELING, DEBRIS BEHIND THE TRUCK STRUCK THE TAIL ROTOR. (-23) PIC LOST CONTROL OF HELICOPTER WHILE ON APPROACH TO LANDING ON A PLATFORM MOUNTED ON A LARGE TRUCK. THE PURPOSE OF LANDING ON THE TRUCK WAS TO LOAD CHEMICALS FOR AERIAL APPLICATION. THE PIC STATED THAT DOWN-WASH BLEW UP DEBRIS INTO TAIL ROTOR.

## 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 MIA98LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA230), Aug 29, 1998: Bell 47D1 (N4702S), Dawson, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing resulting in debris being blown up during landing resulting in damage to the tail rotor and loss of control.

## Other reports on N4702S (3)

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

- [Accident 20020820027009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020820027009A), Aug 20, 2002: Bell 47D1 (N4702S), Union, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) Helicopter was in process of landing on portable platform to refuel and reload chemicals, when tail rotor hit trailer next to platform.
- [Accident 19951115041659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951115041659A), Nov 15, 1995: Bell 47D1 (N4702S), Jasper, FL, Substantial damage. Lost partial power landing. Settled into powerline. Fell vertical to ground. Carb heat exterior operated. Not on.
- [Accident 19780504011049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780504011049A), May 4, 1978: Bell 47D1 (N4702S), Sylmar, CA, Destroyed

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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