- Date
- June 17, 1989, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Moundsville, WV
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2487BBell 47G-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 11, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890617015949A
- Case key
- 11508
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 failed to maintian directional control and obstacle clearance while hovering at low altitude. A tail rotor blade struck an obstacle causing an overload separation failure of the blade.
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 was hovering the acft about 3 ft AGL over a field in an attempt to dry off the field with the rotor wash. The field was to be used for an outdoor concert. The plt was maneuvering the acft between barrels when he inadvertently backed into one. The tail rotor struck the barrel and a blade was severed. The acft spun around, collided with the ground and rolled over. The plt reported no mechanical failure of the helicopter. The plt received a rotorcraft rating eight days before the accident. The plt stated his lack of experience was a factor in the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2487B
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1499
- Airframe hours
- 6,139
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- David Board
- Registered owner
- Equip-Lease Co.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 23, 1988 · 57 hours before
- Departed
- 74D
- Airport
- 74D · Marshall County
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
- 40
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,954 total · 75 in this make and model · 4,049 as pilot in command · 205 in the last 90 days · 92 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PKB, 45 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 N2487B · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.