# Accident 20140518013349A: Bell 47G, Bakersfield, CA, May 18, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 18, 2014, 16:48 local time
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.4342° N, 119.0578° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4342&lon=-119.0578&mi=10
- Aircraft: N16414, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16414-2017-07-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G (registry code 1181002, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g) (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
- Reported engine: LYCOMING VO-435 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 20,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14CA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA196) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140518013349A

## Narrative

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

ON  MAY 5, 2014 , N16414, A BELL 47 HELICOPTER, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT  WHEN THE AIRCRAFT  PERFORMED A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER OFF A TRAILER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALY DAMAGED, HOWEVER THE PILOT RECEIVED ONLY  MINOR INJURIES.    AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED ON A FLATBED TRAILER.  THE TRAILER HAD ON EACH SIDE A 2 INCH LIP  SO IT WOULD PREVENT THE HELICOPTER FROM SLIDING OFF THE TRAILER DURING TRANSPORT.  WHEN THE PILOT STARTED TO RAISE THE COLLECTIVE THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS AND HOOKED THE SKID AT ONE OF THE RAISED LIPS AND ROLLED OVER.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION  BY RAISING COLLECTIVE AND APPLYING OPPOSITE CYCLIC,  HOWEVER THIS ONLY AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED  OVER.

INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THIS  TRAILER WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR  HELICOPTER TRANSPORTATION AND THAT THE STEEL RAISED SQUARE 2 INCH  LIP WAS A POTENTIAL  HAZARD.   USUALLY, HELICOPTER TRAILERS USE A SLOPING RAISED LIP, OR DO NOT HAVE ONE INSTALLED AT ALL, SO IF THE AIRCRAFT WERE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE LIP IT WOULD JUST SLIDE OFF .

THE PILOT WAS UNAWARE THAT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE A VALID REGISTRATION PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.

## 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 WPR14CA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA196), May 18, 2014: Bell 47G (N16414), Bakersfield, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after the helicopter's skid catching on the side of a trailer during takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

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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