# Accident 20150803016289A: Bell 47G-3B-1, Camden, AL, August 3, 2015 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 3, 2015, 16:00 local time - Place: Camden, AL - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Landing: Approach - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 31.8875° N, 87.0558° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8875&lon=-87.0558&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4002G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4002G-2018-03-23) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-1 (registry code 1181028, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (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-3B-1 - Reported engine: LYCOMING VO-435 SERIES - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Airline transport - Pilot flight hours: 20,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15LA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA296) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150803016289A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. 08/03/2015 1600 LOCAL TIME. PILOT STATED THAT DURING APPROACH TO A LANDING SPOT FROM THE SOUTHEAST, WITH WINDS LIGHT AND VARIABLE FROM THE NORTHWEST, AT ABOUT 300 FEET AGL AND ½ MILE OUT OF THE INTENDED LANDING POINT, AFTER HE CLEARED A 100 FT. TALL TREE, HE FELT FLIGHT CONTROLS DIFFICULT TO MOVE INDICATING TO HIM A HYDRAULIC FAILURE. THE HELICOPTER HAD HEAVY COLLECTIVE, SO ANY TIME IT WAS RELEASED IT WOULD DRIFT DOWNWARD LETTING HIM LOSE ALTITUDE. WHILE HE UNSUCCESSFULLY INTENDED TO MOVE THE HYDRAULIC SWITCH TO THE ?OFF? POSITION HE LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. AT ABOUT 30-50 FT. AGL HE REGAINED CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. HE STATED THAT DURING THE LATE STAGES OF THE APPROACH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE GETTING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT TO MOVE. HE WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE BUT UNABLE TO MOVE THE COLLECTIVE AT ALL. THE CYCLIC WAS VIRTUALLY LOCKED IN POSITION AND HE COULD NOT MOVE IT AT ALL. WHILE HE WAS REDUCING APPROACH SPEED THE LEFT SPRAY BOOM HIT WEEDS AND SMALL VEGETATION ABOUT 5 FT. ABOVE GROUND WHICH CAUSED 10-20 DEGREES YAW TO THE LEFT. THEN THE RIGHT SIDE DROPPED SLIGHTLY. THERE WAS A 12-15 INCH TALL MOUND OF DIRT NOT VISIBLE TO HIM BECAUSE OF THE VEGETATION. HE STATED THAT THE HEEL ON THE LEFT SKID CONTACTED SOMETHING WHICH CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO HAVE A VERY TAIL HIGH SLIGHT TILT TO THE RIGHT ATTITUDE. DURING GROUND CONTACT AND THE UNUSUAL ATTITUDE, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO ROLL TO THE LEFT AND COME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. HE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE BROKEN WINDSCREEN JUST AS THE HELICOPTER ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THERE WAS FUEL SPILLING FROM THE RIGHT TANK SPLASHING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE FLIGHT WAS STARTED WITH 40-42 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD AND HAD FLOWN FOR 35 MINUTES, SO THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING. THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED AND CONSUMED BY POST-ACCIDENT FIRE. VERBAL COUNSELING WAS COMPLETED ON 08/26/2015. ## 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 ERA15LA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA296), Aug 3, 2015: Bell 47G 3B 1 (N4002G), Camden, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failure of the helicopter's hydraulic flight control systems for reasons that could not be determined due to the fire damage, and the pilot's inability to turn off the hydraulic system to relieve… ## Other reports on N4002G (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20021019028919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021019028919A), Oct 19, 2002: Bell 47G3B1 (N4002G), Highfalls, GA, Destroyed. (-23) Operator said while spraying timber he lost engine power and autorotated into wooded area, iic found that recovery team found only 2 gal. Of gas in left… - [Accident 19990717035079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990717035079A), Jul 17, 1999: Bell 47G3B1 (N4002G), Sour Lake, TX, Substantial damage. (.4) The helicopter lost engine power during takeoff due to contaminated fuel. The commercial helicopter pilot stated that the night before the accident… - [Accident 19790120021479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790120021479A), Jan 20, 1979: Bell 47G4A (N4002G), Falfurrias, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was herding cattle at low altitude, hit trees. Gusty winds contributed. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.