# NTSB CEN12LA480: Scotts-Bell 47 47G-2A, N73252, Akeley, MN, July 25, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 25, 2012, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Akeley, MN - Coordinates: 46.903888, -94.723609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9039&lon=-94.7236&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84459 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA480 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84459/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84459 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA480 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during low altitude agricultural operations. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=1181012), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181012), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181012), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181012), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The agricultural helicopter pilot reported he was on a “clean up” pass and descending toward the field over a set of power lines when he experienced a slight yaw to the right and felt a slight vibration that seemed to be coming from the rear of the helicopter. When he began to apply left pedal input, the helicopter immediately entered an excessively nose low attitude with increased right yaw. After the pilot applied aft cyclic control, the helicopter impacted terrain and came to rest on its left side. An examination of the helicopter and its systems revealed no preimpact anomalies or malfunctions, and there was no evidence that the helicopter had impacted the power lines. The source of the vibration could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 2012, about 1245 central daylight time, a Scotts-Bell 47 Inc. 47G-2A helicopter, N73252, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while spraying a potato field near Akeley, Minnesota. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Scotts Helicopter Service, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137, as an agricultural application flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he was on a “clean up” pass and descending into the field, over a set of 20 foot power lines, when he experienced a slight yaw to the right and felt a slight vibration that seemed to be coming from the rear of the helicopter. When he began to apply left pedal input the helicopter immediately entered an excessively nose low attitude with an increased yaw to the right. After the pilot applied aft cyclic control the helicopter impacted terrain and came to rest on its left side. The fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor were bent, crushed, and wrinkled. The tail rotor gear box and tail rotor separated from the helicopter. One separated tail rotor blade was observed 50 feet to the north of the main wreckage and the other blade was observed 50 feet to the south of the main wreckage. An examination of the helicopter and its systems revealed no preimpact anomalies and there was no evidence of a wire strike. The source of the vibration could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73252](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73252-2017-02-01), registration cancelled 2017-02-01, S/N 2720, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Scotts-Bell 47 Inc 47G-2A - Registry model: [Bell 47G-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2a) (registry code 1181012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435-A1F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-a1f) (registry code 42200, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2720 - Airframe hours: 13323 - Engines: Lycoming VO-435 A1F 265 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Scotts Helicopter Service Inc, doing business as Scotts Helicopter Service Inc - Registered owner: Scotts Helicopter Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 21, 2011 - Departed: NONE, Akeley, MN - Destination: NONE, Akeley, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2011; seat: single; flight hours: 2,200 total, 300 in this make and model, 2,140 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 110 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.67 inHg - Observed at: KPKW, 15 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 20120725015639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120725015639A), Jul 25, 2012: Bell 47G-2A, Akeley, MN, Destroyed. Pilot stated he was making a clean up pass to the north. He crossed some small power lines as he descended and shortly thereafter felt a small vibration in the… ## Other investigations on N73252 (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC75FHJ28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC75FHJ28), Feb 27, 1975: Bell 47G-2A (N73252), New York, NY, destroyed ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84459. 2.4 MB in all. - Summary of Findings (item 1, .PDF, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388002&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375130&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 221 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375133&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Maps (item 4, .PDF, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps-Master.PDF - Weather Summary (item 5, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375129&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photo (item 6, .PDF, 685 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388001&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.