- Date
- February 26, 1983, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Hardeeville, SC
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5191BBell 47G-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830226005459A
- Case key
- 5893
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt stated that he noticed a peculiar pedal reaction during a turn-around; however, he reported that this may have been caused by the wind which was gusting to 15 KTS. Shortly after completing the turn-around, he experienced a complete loss of tail rotor control. The failure was realized by a reduction of noise, an RPM increase & ayaw to the right. This occurred at an altitude of aprx 300 ft AGL. The plt was unable to maintain directional control in flt, so he autorotated to a narrow logging road. While descending to land, the main rotor struck trees on both sides of the road. During touchdown. The main rotor struck & svered the tail boom. An exam revealed the teeth on the forward (short) tail rotor drive shaft, pn 47-644-180-9, were worn & overheated. Also, the matching splines on the front coupling, pn 47-620-494-3, were overheated & stripped. Only a minimal amount of lubrication was found in the front coupling. The bell maintenance & overhaul instructions recommended daily inspections & lube every 50 hrs.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5191B
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2176
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1F, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- J. D. Turner, Atlanta Helicop.
- Registered owner
- Jack D. Turner
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1982 · 124 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,540 total · 160 in this make and model · 1,496 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 45° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.