# Accident 20010907026269A: Bell 47G, Berry, AL, September 7, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 7, 2001, 10:30 local time
- Place: Berry, AL
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6596° N, 87.6003° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6596&lon=-87.6003&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6327D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6327D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G (registry code 1181002, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6V4 series (registry code 27033, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL01LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA108) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010907026269A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT WAS FLYING OVER HOSTILE TERRAIN CONDUCTING POLICE SURVEILLANCE ON A SUSPECTED DRUG SMUGGLING OPERATION, ACCOMPANIED BY THE LOCAL SHERIFF. HOVERING ABOVE TREE TOPS THE PILOT HEARD WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A LOUD BANG OR THOMP, FOLLOWED BY AN ALMOST IMMEDIATE LOSS OF LATERAL CYCLIC STICK CONTROL. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A CONTROL POWERED LANDING BUT WITH LIMITED OR NO CYCLIC LATERAL CONTROL AND, TOO LOW FOR AN AUTOROTATION THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND, HITTING WITH THE TAIL BOOM FIRST, BENDING THE TAIL BOOM UPWARD AFT OF THE ENGINE. THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM CUTTING, AND SEPARATING THE TAIL ROTOR SECTION FROM IT'S MOUNT. FROM THEREON THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TUMBLING WITH THE MAIN ROTOR IMPACTING THE GROUND AND DISINTEGRATING. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2001, ABOUT 1030 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 47G, N6327D, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN FOUR MILES NORTHEAST OF BERRY, ALABAMA, AFTER EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF LATERAL CYCLIC CONTROL. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN ON FILE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE HELICOPTER S                                                                USTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED RICHARD ARTHUR FIELD (M95) IN FAYETTE, ALABAMA, ABOUT 0945. REPORTEDLY, WHILE MANEUVERING ABOVE THE TREE TOPS AT 200-250 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND A THUMP, THEN NOTICED CYCLIC CONTROL LATERAL MALFUNCTION. WHILE THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE AN EMERGENCY POWER LANDING WITHOUT CYCLIC LATERAL CONTROL, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. ADDITIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE NOT YET KNOWN.

## 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 ATL01LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA108), Sep 7, 2001: Bell 47G (N6327D), Berry, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the main rotor system stabilizer damper control horn assembly, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and subsequent collision with a tree and terrain.

## Other reports on N6327D (2)

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

- [Accident 19790402007639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790402007639A), Apr 2, 1979: Bell 47G2 (N6327D), South Guadalupe, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot flew into the ground when the sun got in his eyes while making a spray run.
- [Accident 19740927032999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740927032999A), Sep 27, 1974: Bell 47G (N6327D), Lancaster, CA, Substantial damage. Crosswind vert lift to hover,lost ctl. Gusts to 27K.

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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