# Accident 20120727017429A: Bell 47G-2A, Austin, IN, July 27, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2012, 08:00 local time
- Place: Austin, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: NDBG
- Location: 38.7364° N, 85.6400° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7364&lon=-85.6400&mi=10
- Aircraft: N652HA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N652HA-2015-06-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-2A (registry code 1181012, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-2A
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,758 total, 547 in this make and model, 138 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12CA484](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA484) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120727017429A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON ITS THIRD LOW LEVEL PASS AT 2-3 FT ALTITUDE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 KTS OVER A SOYBEAN FIELD DOING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS.  THE PILOT GLANCED AT HIS AGNAV GPS AND THEN HE NOTED A NOISE FROM THE LEFT SPRAY BOOM THAT SOUNDED LIKE LEAVES OR SOMETHING HITTING THE SPRAY BOOM. A WITNESS ON THE GROUND STATED THAT THE SPRAY BOOM HIT THE GROUND. THE PILOT PULLED UP TO ASSESS WHAT THE NOISE WAS AND NOTED THAT THE LEFT SPRAY BOOM WAS SHAKING FORE AND AFT.  THE SPRAY BOOM THEN FOLDED AFT TOWARD THE TAIL BOOM AND THERE WAS A BANG OR A POP NOISE.  AFTER THE SPRAY BOOM FOLDED, THE PILOT EXECUTED A CLIMB TO APPROXIMATELY 10 FT AGL AND SLOWED DOWN THE AIRCRAFT IN ORDER TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.  AS SPEED REDUCED FROM 60 TO 40 KTS, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ROTATE RIGHT  AND ASSUMED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.  THE AIRCRAFT MADE ALMOST TWO FULL RIGHT ROTATIONS PRIOR TO AN ATTEMPTED AUTO ROTATION FOR LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST PERPENDICULAR TO THE ORIGINAL LINE OF FLIGHT ON THE SKIDS, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE SPRAY BOOM WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AS WAS THE TAIL ROTOR AND TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX.  THE PILOT SUFFERED A L2 COMPRESSION FRACTURE AND LACERATIONS TO THE FOREHEAD.

## 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 CEN12CA484](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA484), Jul 27, 2012: Bell 47G-2A (N652HA), Austin, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain clearance from terrain during a low-level aerial application flight and lost control of the helicopter.

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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