# NTSB ATL91LA163: Bell 47D1, N1MH, Winton, NC, August 16, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 16, 1991, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Winton, NC
- Coordinates: 36.37952, -76.929306 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3795&lon=-76.9293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8460
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91LA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8460/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA163

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING THE HELICOPTER.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - ditch
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE AG PILOT WAS LANDING HIS HELICOPTER ON A FIELD ROAD FOLLOWING A LOCAL FLIGHT.  UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE RIGHT SKID SETTLED INTO A DITCH.  A MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACTED THE GROUND, THEN IT STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM, SEVERING THE T/R DRIVE SHAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN TO SPIN DUE TO THE LOSS OF T/R CONTROL.  THE PILOT SET THE HELICOPTER DOWN WHILE STILL SPINNING, AND THE SKIDS COLLAPSED.  THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE, AND THE PILOT EGRESSED UNINJURED.  HE TRUCKED THE WRECKAGE TO HIS HOME IN ARKANSAS PRIOR TO REPORTING THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1MH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D1
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 473
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6V-350A 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Moon, Alfred N.
- Registered owner: Moon, Alfred N.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 9,500 total, 5,500 in this make and model, 9,300 as pilot in command, 400 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: ECG, 35 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910816039689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910816039689A), Aug 16, 1991: Bell 47D1, Winton, NC, Substantial damage. Set helicopter down on edge of a field road. Skid settled into ditch,caused rotor to hit tail boom. Spun and rolled

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.

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