- Date
- October 25, 1993, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Billingsley, AL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N866ZBell 47G2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931025046189A
- Case key
- 3320
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper vertical liftoff which resulted in dynamic roll-over and the main rotor's impact with the ground.
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 pilot reported that as he attempted to takeoff from a transport trailer, the right skid hooked a bracket. Dynamic roll- over was induced and the helicopter rolled until the main rotor blades impacted the ground.
Factual narrative
On October 25, 1993, about 1130 central daylight time, a Bell 47G2 helicopter, N866Z, rolled over during takeoff from a transport trailer near Billingsley, Alabama. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Precision Air Services, Inc. It was operated under 14 CFR Part 137 and visual flight rules. A flight plan was not filed for the agricultural operation. The commercial pilot was not injured while the helicopter was substantially damaged. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot the right skid hooked a bracket on the trailer as lift off occurred. The helicopter rolled over onto its right side, which allowed the main rotor to contact the ground. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N866Z
- Reported as
- Bell 47G2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- C-5006
- Airframe hours
- 2,172
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1D, 240 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Precision Air Services, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 2, 1993 · 36 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 300 in this make and model · 10,000 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MGM, 30 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.
Other investigations on N866Z · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.