20020524019919A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 47G-4 · Muncie, IN · May 24, 2002

Date: May 24, 2002 · 15:20 local
Place: Muncie, IN
Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N1915B
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI02LA142
Reported as: Bell 47G4
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,000 total1,700 in this make and model18 in the last 90 days

N1915BRegistration cancelled Apr 30, 2015 · Bell 47G-4S/N 3355 · Built 1965 Airframe modelBell 47G-4 Engine modelLycoming VO-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.19) On may 24, 2002, at 1420 central daylight time, helicopter Bell 47G-4, N1915B, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when the main rotor blade inadvertently struck a light pole and the aircraft rolled over in Muncie, Indiana. The flight was being conducted at an off-airport site. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being operated under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and the one passenger reported no injuries. The flight was to depart from Muncie, Indiana at the time of the accident and had the intended destination of indianapolis brookside airpark (L21), indianapolis, Indiana. (-23) while attempting to takeoff from a parking lot the helicopter's main rotor struck a light pole on the right side of the take off path and crashed. The pilot and passenger escaped with minor injuries before the aircraft burnt.

As the FAA filed it

(.19) ON MAY 24, 2002, AT 1420 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, HELICOPTER BELL 47G-4, N1915B, OWNED AND PILOTED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, WAS DESTROYED WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE INADVERTENTLY STRUCK A LIGHT POLE AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER IN MUNCIE, INDIANA. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED AT AN OFF-AIRPORT SITE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT AND THE ONE PASSENGER REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT WAS TO DEPART FROM MUNCIE, INDIANA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND HAD THE INTENDED DESTINATION OF INDIANAPOLIS BROOKSIDE AIRPARK (L21), INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. (-23) WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A PARKING LOT THE HELICOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR STRUCK A LIGHT POLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TAKE OFF PATH AND CRASHED. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT BURNT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI02LA142Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMuncie, INThe pilot did not maintain directional control during hover taxi. Inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions, the light rain, and the light pole were factors in the accident.May 24, 2002 · Destroyed