- Date
- July 27, 2011, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place
- Nicolett, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7578Bell 47G-2A
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 17, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Case key
- 81279
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 failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, during an aerial application flight, he initiated a climbing turn, which he thought did not "feel right." He leveled the helicopter, stopped the turn, lowered the collective and added full throttle. The pilot stated that the rpm indication was in the bottom of the green arc. The helicopter began losing altitude and impacted a cornfield. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. The helicopter sustained substantial damage when the main rotor separated a section of its tailboom.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that the helicopter gained altitude and he started a turn during a low level aerial application maneuver. The turning maneuver did not "feel right." He leveled off and stopped the turn. He lowered the collective and added full throttle. The pilot stated that the helicopter's RPMs were in the bottom of the green arc. The helicopter began losing altitude and impacted tall corn. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. The helicopter sustained substantial damage when the main rotor separated a section of its tailboom.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7578
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-2A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2674
- Airframe hours
- 9,561
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1F, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Scotts Helicopters Service Inc
- Registered owner
- Scotts Helicopters Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 29, 2011
- Departed
- Nicolett, MN
- Destination
- Nicolett, MN
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 39
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,123 total · 47 in this make and model · 2,068 as pilot in command · 227 in the last 90 days · 127 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.72 inHg
- Observed at
- ULM
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.
Other investigations on N7578 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.