# Accident 20100925046309A: Bell 47G-3B-1, Gaston, OR, September 25, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 25, 2010, 19:00 local time
- Place: Gaston, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: GJDL
- Location: 45.4353° N, 123.1369° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4353&lon=-123.1369&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7860S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7860S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-1 (registry code 1181028, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 series (registry code 03019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3B-1
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,500 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10CA470](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA470) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100925046309A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED "I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF LANDING N8760S ON THE TRAILER USED FOR OVER THE ROAD TRANSPORTATION OF THE HELICOPTER.  I PLACED THE LANDING SKIDS ON THE TRAILER AND LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO THE FULL DOWN POSITION.  THE HELICOPTER ABRUPTLY TILTED AFT ON THE SKID HEALS.  I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED UP COLLECTIVE.  THE HELICOPTER AT THAT POINT STARTED TO ROTATE TO THE RIGHT AND I WAS UNABLE TO COUNTER THE ROTATION WITH LEFT ANTI TORQUE PEDDLE.  I IMMEDIATELY CLOSED THE THROTTLE TO COUNTER THE ROTATION.  THE HELICOPTER ROTATED ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DEGREES TO THE RIGHT WHEN IT CONTACTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRAILER AND CAME TO A FULL STOP."  INSPECTION REVEALED THAT UNCOMMANDED ROTATION OF THE HELICOPTER WAS A RESULT OF THE TAIL ROTOR DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED WHEN THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE TRAILER.  PILOT IS VERY EXPERIENCED IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION WITH OVER 2000 HOURS IN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL.  IT WAS INDICATED TO THE IIC THAT THE POI FROM SEATTLE FSDO HAD COUNSELED THE AIRMAN ON AERONAUTICAL DECISION MAKING AS IT RELATES TO THIS TYPE OF OPERATION THE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 WPR10CA470](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA470), Sep 26, 2010: Bell 47G (N7860S), Gaston, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain tail rotor clearance while landing on a transport trailer positioned on an uneven surface.

## Other reports on N7860S (1)

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

- [Accident 19771220038559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771220038559A), Dec 20, 1977: Bell 47G3B1 (N7860S), Billings, MT, Destroyed. Attmtd autorotation due loud noise. Collective was inop. Wrong transmission installed.

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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