# Accident 20150724011709A: Bell 47G-4A, Gilbert, IA, July 24, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 24, 2015, 18:00 local time
- Place: Gilbert, IA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 1VHG
- Location: 42.1694° N, 93.6411° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1694&lon=-93.6411&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1396X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1396X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-4A (registry code 1181031, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-540 series (registry code 41534, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-4A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING VO-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 6,600 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15LA322](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA322) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150724011709A

## Narrative

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

AFTER COMPLETING AERIAL APPLICATION, THE PILOT CLIMBED UP TO AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 150 AGL OVER THE CORN FIELD.  THE AIRMAN THEN NOSED THE AIRCRAFT OVER TO FLY TO A LANDING SITE NEARBY.  THE AIRSPEED WAS DESCRIBED BY THE PILOT AS SLOW WHEN HE NOSED THE AIRCRAFT OVER.  THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT AND THE AIRMAN ENTERED AN AUTO-ROTATIONAL DESCENT.  THE HELICOPTER'S ROTOR RPM WAS AGAIN DESCRIBED BY THE PILOT AS HAVING DECAYED. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE CORN AND STRUCK THE GROUND SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAILBOOM, ROTOR SYSTEM, SKIDS AND MAIN FRAME.  THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED AND REMAINED IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION.  THE AIRMAN REPORTED NO INJURY AT THE TIME OF HIS INTERVIEW.  AS THE CORN WAS TALL, SOME PARTS OF THE TAIL BOOM COULD NOT BE LOCATED AND THEREFORE WERE NOT EXAMINED.

POST-CRASH INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER YIELDED ABOUT 11 TO 12 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS.  THE AIRMAN WAS ABLE WITH LITTLE DIFFICULTY TO START THE ENGINE AND IT RAN NORMALLY.

## 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 CEN15LA322](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA322), Jul 24, 2015: Bell 47G 4A (N1396X), Gilbert, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because the available fuel shifted within the tanks due to an abrupt nose-low maneuver to avoid an obstacle, which resulted in a hard forced…

## Other reports on N1396X (2)

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

- [Incident 20130729014999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130729014999I), Jul 29, 2013: Bell 47G-4A (N1396X), Beaman, IA, Minor damage. The airman was conducting agricultural aerial application in a cornfield. He had conducted multiple passes in this field. The field had electrical transmission…
- [Accident 19740120003369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740120003369A), Jan 20, 1974: Bell 47G4A (N1396X), Wapato, WA, Destroyed. Enrt to evac flood victims. Acft observed in controlled descent until hitting pwr lines.

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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