# NTSB CEN16LA003: Bell 47G, N160CS, Huntsville, TX, October 5, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 5, 2015, 08:05 local (13:05 UTC)
- Place: Huntsville, TX
- Coordinates: 30.707221, -95.287223 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7072&lon=-95.2872&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 January 18, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92113
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92113/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92113
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA003

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of helicopter control during an agricultural application pass for reasons that could not be determined due to the extent of damage to the flight control system.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181026), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1181026), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=1181026), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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-3B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181026), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181026), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot was conducting an agricultural application flight in the helicopter. He reported that the helicopter felt "awkward" during the spray pass shortly before the event but that he thought that it was due to an uncoordinated turn. During the next spray pass, the helicopter developed a right rolling tendency, which the pilot was initially able to counter with left cyclic control. He then entered a right turn with the intention of returning to the fuel truck. Once the right turn was initiated, he applied full left and aft cyclic control input but the helicopter did not respond. The helicopter began to lose altitude, impacted the ground, and then came to rest in an open field covered with low vegetation. The pilot reported that he did not feel any abnormal vibrations or hear any "pops" before the loss of control authority. He added that the flight went from routine to out of control in a matter of "seconds." A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions; however, the extent of damage to the flight control system precluded a complete examination.

## Factual narrative

On October 5, 2015, about 0805 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-3B helicopter, N160CS, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during an aerial application pass near Huntsville, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered and operated by Custom Air LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural application flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a temporary landing site near the application field shortly before the accident.The pilot reported that the helicopter felt "awkward" shortly before the event, but thought it was due to an uncoordinated turn. During the next spray pass, the helicopter developed a right rolling tendency, which the pilot was initially able to counter with left cyclic control. He entered a "gentle" right turn with the intention of returning to the fuel truck for a precautionary landing. However, full left cyclic control input was ultimately ineffective in countering the right rolling tendency. The right turn continued for about 150 degrees of heading change. The helicopter began to lose altitude during the turn and subsequently impacted the ground in a slight right bank, traveling about 40 yards before coming to rest. The pilot stated that he did not feel any abnormal vibrations or hear any "pops" before the loss of control authority. He commented that the flight went from routine to out of control in a matter of "seconds." The helicopter came to rest in an open field covered with low vegetation. A postaccident examination was conducted by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors. The windshield/canopy had separated from the fuselage, with plexiglass fragments observed at the accident site. The forward fuselage structure exhibited minor deformations and distortions; however, the integrity of the fuselage was intact. The main rotor blades remained attached to the hub; however, the rotor blades were deformed over the span of the blades. The rotor hub remained attached to the mast and transmission. The transmission and supporting structure were dislocated from the aft fuselage/forward tailboom truss structure. The fuel tanks were separated and located with the main wreckage. The tailboom was deformed. The tail rotor transmission had separated from tail boom and was located at the accident site. The tail rotor blades remained attached to the hub. The blades exhibited tip damage but appeared otherwise intact. The flight control system components were deformed and fragmented consistent with the overall impact damage. The postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction; however, the examination was hindered by the extent of the damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N160CS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N160CS-2021-12-04), registration cancelled 2021-12-04, S/N 2768 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G (3B)
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b) (registry code 1181026) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2768
- Year built: 1962
- Airframe hours: 15259.1
- Engines: Rolls Royce T63-A-700 250 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Custom Air LLC
- Registered owner: Custom Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 20, 2015, 20 hours before
- Departed: Huntsville, TX
- Destination: Huntsville, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 17, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 844 total, 106 in this make and model, 683 as pilot in command, 192 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: UTS, 16 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 20151005017709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151005017709A), Oct 5, 2015: Bell 47G-3B, Huntsville, TX, Destroyed. Pilot made a right turn and could not return to level flight. Impacted ground and helicopter was destroyed.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92113. 8.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Conversation Summary - FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Summary%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 5 photos, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.

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