20090708013339A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 47G-2 · Turlock, CA · July 8, 2009

Date: July 8, 2009 · 11:00 local
Place: Turlock, CA
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: PWFG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6768D
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR09CA333
Reported as: Bell 47G2
Reported engine: Lycoming VO435*
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 543 total343 in this make and model90 in the last 90 days

N6768DRegistration cancelled Mar 15, 2018 · Bell 47G-2S/N 2441 · Built 1959 Airframe modelBell 47G-2 Engine modelLycoming VO-435 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.

(-23) While conducting an aerial application, the aircraft was possible caught into settling with power. The pilot stated that he was performing a climbing 180° left hand turn (ag-turn). As he was climbing he noted that the rotor RPM started to droop but taught it would return into the green range after the turn in the decent back to the field. At this time he noticed he was unable to bring to RPM back in the green range and noticed that helicopter started to vibrate followed by a rapid decent. As the aircraft made contact with surface the rotor blades made contact with the tail rotor and the aircraft bubble window. The wing at the time of the accident was variable at 5 knots.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION, THE AIRCRAFT WAS POSSIBLE CAUGHT INTO SETTLING WITH POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS PERFORMING A CLIMBING 180° LEFT HAND TURN (AG-TURN). AS HE WAS CLIMBING HE NOTED THAT THE ROTOR RPM STARTED TO DROOP BUT TAUGHT IT WOULD RETURN INTO THE GREEN RANGE AFTER THE TURN IN THE DECENT BACK TO THE FIELD. AT THIS TIME HE NOTICED HE WAS UNABLE TO BRING TO RPM BACK IN THE GREEN RANGE AND NOTICED THAT HELICOPTER STARTED TO VIBRATE FOLLOWED BY A RAPID DECENT. AS THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH SURFACE THE ROTOR BLADES MADE CONTACT WITH THE TAIL ROTOR AND THE AIRCRAFT BUBBLE WINDOW. THE WING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS VARIABLE AT 5 KNOTS.

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 WPR09CA333Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportTurlock, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM while maneuvering at a low altitude.Jul 8, 2009 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N6768D · 1

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

Accident 19900709024939ATo Vertical (Helicopter Only) · Hatley, WIEngine lost power after liftoff from service truck. Hard impact rotors chopped tailboom. Found sticking valves.Jul 9, 1990 · Substantial damage