# Accident 20160302006439A: Bell 47G, Agua Dulce, CA, March 2, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 2, 2016, 09:30 local time
- Place: Agua Dulce, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.5675° N, 118.3083° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5675&lon=-118.3083&mi=10
- Aircraft: N568TB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N568TB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G (registry code 1181002, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 709 total, 137 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA143) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160302006439A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 2, 2016, AT 0900 PDT, ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT N568TB, DEPARTED W.J. FOX FIELD (WJF), LANCASTER, CA, HEADING FOR AGUA DULCE AIRPARK (L70), AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES PER HOUR, AT 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, WITH A HEADING OF 270 DEGREES.

WHILE FOLLOWING ALONG THE RIDGE, PILOT 'CLICKED' MICROPHONE FIVE (5) TIMES FOR ATIS. PILOT NEEDED TO ADJUST THE VOLUME CONTROL ON HIS HEADSET. PILOT REMOVED HIS LEFT HAND FROM THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL, AND USED IT TO HOLD THE CYCLIC CONTROL, SO HE COULD USE HIS RIGHT HAND TO ADJUST THE VOLUME ON HIS HEADSET.

PILOT FORGOT TO INCREASE THE FRICTION ADJUSTMENT OF THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL PRIOR TO REMOVING HIS LEFT HAND FROM THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL.

AT THIS POINT, THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL DROPPED, WHICH DECREASED MAIN ROTOR BLADE PITCH, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVER SPEED. IMMEDIATELY, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT. PILOT GRABBED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL WITH HIS LEFT HAND, REDUCED THROTTLE, THEN INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL PITCH.

THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED SETTLING WITH POWER, AND THE PILOT COULD NOT RECOVER CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMED EIGHT TO TEN SPINS, LANDING AT AN ANGLE ON THE SKIDS, AND ROLLED ON TO ITS RIGHT SIDE.

PILOT RELEASED HIS SEAT BELT, REMOVED HIMSELF FROM THE AIRCRAFT, AND CALLED FOR HELP ON HIS CELLULAR PHONE.

ACCIDENT SITE LOCATION: 34.567467, -118.30844, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA. FOUR MILES NORTH OF AUGA DULCE AIRPARK.

## 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 GAA16CA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA143), Mar 2, 2016: Bell 47 (N568TB), Agua Dulce, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to set the appropriate collective friction prior to releasing the collective in flight, which resulted in decreased main rotor pitch, settling with power, and an impact 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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