# Accident 20020501012289A: Bell 47J2A, Blairstown, NJ, May 1, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 1, 2002, 14:30 local time
- Place: Blairstown, NJ
- Airport: Blairstown Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.9742° N, 74.9997° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9742&lon=-74.9997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N37731, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37731-2016-09-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47J-2A (registry code 1181106, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j-2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-540 series (registry code 41534, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47J2A
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC02LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA090) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020501012289A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON MAY 1, 2002, ABOUT 1430 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 47J-2A HELICOPTER, N37731, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE LANDING AT THE BLAIRSTOWN AIRPORT, BLAIRSTOWN, NEW JERSEY. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD EXECUTED AN APPROACH TO A HELIPAD LOCATED IN A GRASS AREA, JUST EAST OF THE RUNWAY. FOUR TIRES MARKED THE HELIPAD, ONE AT EACH CORNER. AS THE HELICOPTER NEARED THE GROUND, THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES STRUCK ONE OF THE TIRES. THE HELICOPTER THEN BEGAN TO ROTATE TO THE LEFT AND TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON THE HELIPAD, COMING TO REST UPRIGHT. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE GEARBOX HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TAIL BOOM, AND THE MAIN LANDING SKIDS WERE COLLAPSED AROUND BOTH SIDES OF THE FUSELAGE. THE RECORDED WEATHER AT A NEARBY AIRPORT, ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, INCLUDED WINDS FROM 290 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS.                                                                                                                                  (-23) THE AIRMAN STATED HE APPROACHED BLAIRSTOWN AIRPORT (1N7) FROM THE NORTHWEST AND STRUCK ONE OF FOUR TIRES USED TO MARK THE HELICOPTER LANDING AREA WITH THE TAIL ROTOR OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX ASSEMBLY SNAPPED OFF CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ROTATE TO THE LEFT IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE LEFT SKID FIRST, HARD ENOUGH TO BEND THE CROSS TUBES WHICH FLATTENED OUTWARD ON BOTH SKIDS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT'S BELLY TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE MAIN ROTOR BUT THERE WAS WRINKLING OF THE TAIL BOOM SKIN ON THE LEFT SIDE, AFT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, THE TAIL ROTOR GUARD SNAPPED OFF AND PUNCTURED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TAIL BOOM. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

## 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 NYC02LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA090), May 1, 2002: Bell 47J-2A (N37731), Blairstown, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance which resulted in a tail strike.

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.