CEN14LA415

The commercial pilot/owner was conducting an agricultural application flight in the helicopter. A witness reported observing the helicopter flying about 200 ft above ground level and then descending to just above the sugarcane tops. The helicopter then pitched down and impacted terrain, and it was destroyed. About 3 days before the accident, the helicopter received a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ramp check, during which numerous discrepancies with the helicopter were found including, in part, a cracked tailboom tube structure, rusted bolts with improper grip lengths, a disabled transmission chip light, a worn transmission gear with a backed-off locknut, and a lack of proper lubrication. The FAA inspector noted that the helicopter was in a poor condition and considered to be unairworthy. The pilot/owner, who was also a licensed mechanic, performed his own maintenance. It is unlikely that the pilot corrected the maintenance issues in the intervening 3 days; therefore, the airplane was likely unairworthy at the time of the accident. The accident is consistent with the loss of helicopter control for reasons that could not be determined because the helicopter was destroyed at impact.

On August 10, 2014, about 1015 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-2 helicopter, N4690, impacted terrain near Jeanerette, Louisiana. The commercial rated pilot, sole occupant, was fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Penn-Tex Helicopter, Inc. of Jeanerette, Louisiana, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137, as an agricultural flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan.A witness who was driving northbound, reported observing the helicopter flying west to east, about 200 ft, above ground level. The helicopter descended to just above the sugarcane tops, and then pitched down. He then observed smoke and assumed the helicopter had crashed. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors responded to the accident site. The helicopter impacted a vacant area of a sugarcane field. The helicopter was destroyed during the impact and evidence of a small post-crash fire was present. A specific deficiency was not identified at the accident site; however, the helicopter was considered to be in an unairworthy condition. About three days prior to the accident, FAA inspectors were conducting ramp checks and inspected the accident helicopter. The inspectors found numerous discrepancies with the helicopter: the tailboom tube structure cracked through, rusted bolts and improper lengths, a disabled transmission chip light, transmission gear showed signs of wear and a locknut had backed off, and numerous areas that lacked proper lubrication were also observed. The inspectors noted that the helicopter was in poor condition, and considered the helicopter to be unairworthy. A postcrash review of the helicopter's maintenance records revealed they were in order with no discrepancies. The inspectors reported that they planned further action on the pilot, who was also a licensed mechanic and maintained the helicopter; however, the accident happened before further action could be taken.