# Accident 20150811016529A: Bell 47D1, Clanton, AL, August 11, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 11, 2015, 14:45 local time
- Place: Clanton, AL
- Airport: Chilton County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8511° N, 86.6081° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8511&lon=-86.6081&mi=10
- Aircraft: N74823, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N74823) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,328 total, 498 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA221) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150811016529A

## Narrative

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

08/11/2015 1500 LOCAL TIME WINDS WERE OBSERVED AS 340 AT 10 KTS. STUDENT PILOT WAS MANIPULATING THE CONTROLS OF N74823 A BELL 47D1 ON FINAL TERMINATING WITH A 3 FOOT HOVER WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE RAPIDLY WITH AFT MOVEMENT. CFI KENNETH LEE GILLILAND INITIATED CONTROL INPUT OVERRIDE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR CONTACTED  RUNWAY 26 APPROXIMATELY 220 FT BEYOND THE THRESHOLD ON THE CENTERLINE. THE RED MAIN ROTOR BLADE FLEXED MAKING CONTACT WITH THE TAIL BOOM CAUSING THE WOOD BLADE TO SEPARATE AND DEPART THE SPAR. THE CFI IMMEDIATELY INITIATED ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE ROTATING IMBALANCE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BREAK MOUNTS AND ENGINE BEGAN TO BREAK APART. BOTH CREW EXITED THE AIRCRAFT UNINJURED.

COUSELLING WAS COMPLETED ON 8/18/2015.

## 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 GAA15CA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA221), Aug 11, 2015: Bell 47D1 (N74823), Clanton, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's abrupt cyclic and collective inputs during the approach to land which resulted in abnormal runway contact and a subsequent tail boom strike by the main rotor blades.

## Other reports on N74823 (1)

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

- [Accident 20210101001599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210101001599A), Jan 1, 2021: Bell 47D1 (N74823), Marana, AZ, Substantial damage. While hover taxiing back to ramp on taxiway, a CE-182 entered the same taxiway approaching the helicopter. PIC stated that no radio contact could be made with…

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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