20040623012469A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 47G-3B-1 · Medford, OR · June 23, 2004

Date: June 23, 2004 · 10:00 local
Place: Medford, OR
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: NKPG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N73909
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA04LA114
Reported as: Bell 47G3B1
Reported engine: Allison 250C*
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 9,434 total4,700 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N73909Registered now · Bell 47G-3B-1S/N 2797 · Built 1962 Airframe modelBell 47G-3B-1 Engine modelLycoming TVO-435-GIATurbo-prop

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.

(-23) Pilot stated he was making his last spray run when he thought his rotor blade struck a dead tree. Helicopter started vibrating. Pilot said he then dumped the collective to make a landing in a clearing. Helicopter hit the ground hard, and caught on fire. Aircraft received substantial damage. Pilot received serious injuries.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT STATED HE WAS MAKING HIS LAST SPRAY RUN WHEN HE THOUGHT HIS ROTOR BLADE STRUCK A DEAD TREE. HELICOPTER STARTED VIBRATING. PILOT SAID HE THEN DUMPED THE COLLECTIVE TO MAKE A LANDING IN A CLEARING. HELICOPTER HIT THE GROUND HARD, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.

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 SEA04LA114Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMedford, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree while maneuvering. Trees were a factor.Jun 23, 2004 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N73909 · 2

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

Accident 19940224002919APwr Off Run Land (Autorotation · Gold Hill, ORLost power on a spray run. Tried for a road. Lost rotor RPM fell 75 feet to ground. Fuel line separated.Feb 24, 1994 · Destroyed Accident 19731002030999ALow Level Operations · New Meadows, IDTowing cable w ext hook. Pilot in command - allowed cable to strike t/rOct 2, 1973 · Destroyed