20210101001599A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 47D1 · Marana, AZ · January 1, 2021

Date: January 1, 2021 · 13:15 local
Place: Marana, AZ
Phase of flight: Taxi
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N74823
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR21LA077
Reported as: Bell 47D1
Reported engine: Franklin 6V4 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,400 total32 in this make and model

N74823Registered now · Bell 47D1S/N 270 · Built 1953 Airframe modelBell 47D1 Engine modelFranklin 6V4 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

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 CE-182. CE-182 continued towards the helicopter and according to PIC approached to within 50 feet of helicopter at which time the PIC attempted to gain vertical lift resulting in low rotor RPM which led to a hard landing damaging the helicopter. During this, CE-182 turned onto taxiway B2 and proceeded to takeoff.

As the FAA filed it

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 CE-182. CE-182 CONTINUED TOWARDS THE HELICOPTER AND ACCORDING TO PIC APPROACHED TO WITHIN 50 FEET OF HELICOPTER AT WHICH TIME THE PIC ATTEMPTED TO GAIN VERTICAL LIFT RESULTING IN LOW ROTOR RPM WHICH LED TO A HARD LANDING DAMAGING THE HELICOPTER. DURING THIS, CE-182 TURNED ONTO TAXIWAY B2 AND PROCEEDED TO TAKEOFF.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR21LA077Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMarana, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control, which resulted in a hard landing.Jan 1, 2021 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N74823 · 1

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

Accident 20150811016529ALanding: Touchdown · Clanton, AL08/11/2015 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…Aug 11, 2015 · Substantial damage