# Accident 20110927022599A: Bell 47D1, Ahwahnee, CA, September 27, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 27, 2011, 10:40 local time
- Place: Ahwahnee, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.4075° N, 119.7233° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4075&lon=-119.7233&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9158R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9158R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47D1 (registry code 1180802, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6V4 series (registry code 27033, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D1
- Reported engine: FRANKLIN 6V4 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 231 total, 231 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11LA469](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA469) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110927022599A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2011, N9158R A BELL 47 HELICOPTER, WITH THE OWNER AND A CERTIFICATED  MECHANIC ON BOARD CONDUCTING A MAINTENANCE FLIGHT WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.  UPON RETURN FROM A MAINTENANCE FLIGHT THE PILOT ALLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO GET SLOW AND  BELOW THE APPROACH PATH TO THE HELIPAD.  AS THE PILOT TRIED TO RAISE COLLECTIVE THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO DESCENT AT A RAPID RATE, THE PILOT STATED HE ADDED POWER  BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCENT TOWARDS THE TREES THE PILOT RECOGNIZED THAT HE ENTERED SETTLING-WITH- POWER BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE SITUATION DUE TO THE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE TREES AND RAISING TERRAIN SURROUNDING HIM.. THE CERTIFICATED MECHANIC ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFTS ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT FULL POWER AND THE PILOT WAS RAISING THE COLLECTIVE TO STOP THE DESCENT RATE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO THE TREES SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT. THE PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO FREE HIMSELF BUT PILOT HAD TO BE EXTRACTED BY FIRE DEPARTMENT.THE PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM MINOR INJURERS , THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.

## 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 WPR11LA469](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA469), Sep 27, 2011: Bell 47D1 (N9158R), Ahwahnee, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm during the landing approach, which resulted in a loss of control.

## Other reports on N9158R (1)

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

- [Accident 19840520017799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840520017799A), May 20, 1984: Bell 47D (N9158R), Alpena, MI, Destroyed. Buzzed area then pulled up steeply and stalled rotors. Helicopter fell into a wooded area.

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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