# Accident 20080814844439A: Bell 47G3B, Kenyon, MN, August 14, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 14, 2008, 10:45 local time
- Place: Kenyon, MN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: CUHG
- Location: 44.3208° N, 92.8747° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3208&lon=-92.8747&mi=10
- Aircraft: N47AH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47AH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B (registry code 1181026, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TVO-435-GIA (registry code 41526, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,800 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI08CA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA254) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080814844439A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT WAS PERFORMING AERIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATION IN A BELL 47.  HE WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN HIS 8TH FIELD THAT DAY.  THE HELICOPTER WAS POSITIONED ON A FLATBED TRUCK WHERE APPROXIMATELY 70 GAL OF "SNIPER" PESTICIDE WAS LOADED.  THE PILOT RECALLED THE WINDS WERE "CALM TO LIGHT, FROM THE NORTH".  LOOKING BACK, HE MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A DRAMATIC RISE IN HUMIDITY BEFORE HIS TAKEOFF.  HE FELT IT WAS A NORMAL TAKEOFF AND SOON NOTED THAT HIS ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECAY AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SETTLE.  AS THE HELICOPTER SETTLED, IT HAD ABOUT 10-15 KTS OF FORWARD AIRSPEED AND NOSED OVER DUE TO CONTACTING TALL SOYBEAN CROP.  THE PILOT SECURED THE HELICOPTER, EXITED, AND NOTIFIED THE MINNEAPOLIS FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE NR SPEED BEGAN TO BLEED WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER.  HE FELT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY, POSSIBLE POLLEN CONTAMINATION OF THE ROTOR BLADES, AND THAT HE EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES OF THE HELICOPTER.

## 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 CHI08CA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA254), Aug 14, 2008: Bell 47G-3B (N47AH), Kenyon, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in the helicopter settling with power.

## Other reports on N47AH (2)

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

- [Accident 20170724020609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170724020609A), Jul 24, 2017: Bell 47G-3B (N47AH), Toeterville, IA, Substantial damage. While performing agricultural spray operations five miles west of stacyville, IA. The pilot failed to maintain sufficient rotor prm to arrest his descent from…
- [Accident 19971018047319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971018047319A), Oct 18, 1997: Bell 47G3B (N47AH), Winston, MT, Substantial damage. (-16) On October 18, 1997, at approximately 2130 MST, Bell helicopter N47AH, while on a routine flight, the pilot reported that the aircraft yawed slightly,…

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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