- Date
- July 2, 1999, 07:30 local (11:30 UTC)
- Place
- Trenton, GA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N23590Bell 47
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990702008149A
- Case key
- 46720
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 loss of main rotor rpm due to improper use of the flight controls by the pilot. Factors were the tailwind and trees.
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
According to the pilot, he was unable to maintain flight after a loss of rotor rpm. He initiated an autorotation and collided with trees during the descent. The pilot attempted the autorotation with about a five knot tail wind. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter.
Factual narrative
On July 2, 1999, at 0730 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47, N23590, collided with trees during a forced landing near Trenton, Georgia, following a loss of rotor rpm. The agricultural flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed Trenton, Georgia, at an undetermined time.
The pilot was conducting an aerial application for agricultural purposes. According to the pilot, the helicopter experienced a decay in rotor rpm and he was unable to maintain flight. He executed an autorotation and collided with trees on the descent.
According to the FAA, the pilot attempted the autorotation with about a five knot tailwind. No mechanical deficiencies were reported by the pilot. A Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (Form 6120.1/2) was not submitted by the pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N23590
- Reported as
- Bell 47
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3506
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-AIF, 280 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Southern Helicopter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
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
- 52
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 8,440 total · 2,450 in this make and model · 110 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CHA, 22 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.