# Accident 19980908038889A: Bell 47G3B1, Buckhead Ridge, FL, September 8, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 8, 1998, 20:30 local time
- Place: Buckhead Ridge, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 27.2405° N, 80.8208° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2405&lon=-80.8208&mi=10
- Aircraft: N73957 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 804 total, 93 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98TA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98TA243) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980908038889A

## Narrative

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

(-23)ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1998, ABOUT 2114 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME. A BELL BHT-47-G3B1, N73957, REGISTERED TO CLARKE ENVIRONMENTAL MOSQUITO MANAGEMENT, OPERATING AS A 14 CFR PART 91 PUBLIC USE FLIGHT, CRASHED DURING TAKEOFF FROM A TRAILER MOUNTED HELIPAD NEAR BURKHEAD RIDGE, FLORDA.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE HELICOPTER RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, THE TRAILER WAS SLIGHTLY DAMAGED, AND THE COMMERICAIL-RATED PILOT WAS NOT INJURIED.  THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, A RECENT RAIN SHOWER HAD WET EVERYTHING PREVIOUS TO HIS TAKEOFF.  ON LIFTOFF, AS THE HELICOPTER BECAME LIGHT ON ITS SKIDS, A GUST OF WIND FROM BEHIND CAUSED THE CRAFT TO SLIDE ON THE WET DIAMOND METAL PLATE PLATFORM ENOUGH TO SNAG THE TOE OF THE RIGHT SKID UNDER A PERMANENTLY MOUNTED TOOLBOX.  AS THE PILOT MANEUVERED TO DISENGAGE THE SKID, HE SHIFTED RIGHTWARD RELATIVE TO THE HELIPAD CENTERLINE.  AND WHEN HE SAT IF BACK DOWN THE RIGHT SKID SLIPPED OFF THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE TRAILER.  THE MAIN ROTOR COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE ROTORCRAFT AND THE HELIPAD. (.4) AS THE AERIAL APPLICATION HELICOPTER WAS LIFTING OFF THE TRAILER MOUNTED HELIPAD, A GUST OF WIND FROM BEHIND CAUSED THE ROTORCRAFT TO LURCH FORWARD AND SNAG THE TOE OF THE RIGHT SKID UNDER A TOOLBOX. IN THE PROCESS OF DISENGAGING THE SKID, THE PILOT SET DOWN OFF-CENTER AND SLIPPED OFF THE HELIPAD EDGE, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE HELIPAD.

## 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 MIA98TA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98TA243), Sep 9, 1998: Bell BHT-47-G3B1 (N73957), Buckhead Ridge, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for a tailwind condition on liftoff from the helipad.

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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