# Accident 20080701840549A: Bell 47G3B1, Mullen, NE, July 1, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 2008, 07:00 local time
- Place: Mullen, NE
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: V75G
- Location: 42.0431° N, 101.0672° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0431&lon=-101.0672&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8468E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8468E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B (registry code 1181026, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TVO-435-A1A (registry code 41937, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-a1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Reported engine: LYC TVO435G1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 15,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW08CA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA188) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080701840549A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 1, 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 0700 CDT, THE PILOT OF A BELL 47G-B3-1, N8468E, ATTEMPTED TO DEPART A FIELD WITH A LOAD OF HERBICIDE WHILE CONDUCTING 14 CFR 137 OPERATIONS.  ON DEPARTURE THE PILOT FLEW OVER SHIMMINS LAKE LOCATED IN HOOKER COUNTY, NEBRASKA.  ONCE OVER THE WATER THE PILOT REPORTED THE MAIN ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECAY.  THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE LAKE WHICH RESULTED IN BOTH MAIN AND TAIL ROTOR STRIKES UPON ENTRY INTO THE WATER.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN FIVE FOOT OF WATER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.

## 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 DFW08CA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA188), Jul 1, 2008: Bell 47G-3B (N8468E), Mullen, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The plot's distraction with the chemical load resulting the failure to maintain control of the helicopter. A factor was no suitable terrain for landing.

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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