# NTSB CEN16LA182: Bell 47G 3B 1, N48316, Portia, AR, May 13, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2016, 07:15 local (12:15 UTC) - Place: Portia, AR - Coordinates: 36.075553, -91.061111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0756&lon=-91.0611&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 28, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 93171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93171/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93171 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA182 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to perform a sliding takeoff from the elevated platform, which resulted in a dynamic rollover when the right skid plate caught on a protruding screw. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to adequately inspect the landing platform before flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=1181028), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/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-3B-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181028), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=1181028), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1181028), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=1181028), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B-1, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181028), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While departing from an elevated wood platform, the pilot elected to make a sliding takeoff, and after the helicopter's skids had slid forward about 2.5 ft, the skid plate on the bottom of the helicopter's right skid caught on a raised deck screw that had backed out of the platform. The pilot attempted to free the skid by applying power and pitching the helicopter forward. As the skid broke free, the helicopter pivoted forward and yawed to the right. The helicopter impacted the ground in a near-vertical attitude, and the main rotor blades contacted the service truck's cab. An individual on the ground was struck and fatally injured by debris from the helicopter. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident, and did not recall inspecting the landing platform the morning of the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2016, about 0715 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 helicopter, N48316, collided with a service truck during takeoff near Portia, Arkansas. One person on the ground was fatally injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Hammock Flying Services INC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.According to the pilot, the helicopter landed on an elevated wood platform located on top of the service truck. After being loaded with fuel and a herbicide mixture, the helicopter started to lift off. The helicopter's skid caught a piece of the elevated platform and the pilot attempted to free the helicopter due adding power and pitching forward. The pilot was unable to free the helicopter and lost control of the helicopter was it continued to pitch forward. The main rotors contacted the service truck and the helicopter impacted terrain. Substantial damage was sustained to the helicopter's main rotors, tail boom, and fuselage. Debris from the helicopter struck and fatally injured a person on the ground. An examination of the helicopter revealed substantial damage to the helicopter's main rotors, tail boom, and fuselage. Examination of the landing platform revealed that a large deck screw had backed out of the platform. Damage to the platform was consistent with the helicopter's right skid catching the raised screw during the lift off. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident. In addition, he did not recall inspecting the landing platform the morning of the accident. The operator reported that they are in the processing of upgrading the service trucks. The improvements included self-locking hardware for the screws on the platforms to prevent the regular deck screw from backing out. In addition, the other trucks included extra railings to protect the service person. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48316](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48316), registered now, S/N 3628, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G 3B 1 (T) - Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C18](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c18) (registry code 03075, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3628 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 9279.6 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C18 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Hammock Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Hammock Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 10, 2016 - Departed: PORTIA, AR - Destination: PORTIA, AR - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 12,750 total, 760 in this make and model, 12,618 as pilot in command, 94.4 in the last 90 days, 57.4 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KARG, 7 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 20160513007139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160513007139A), May 13, 2016: Bell 47G-3B-1, Portia, AR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On may 5, 2016, at 0715 CST, a Bell 47G, N48316, registered to hammock flying service, inc, collided with the operator?s reloading truck in Portia, Arkansas,… ## Other investigations on N48316 (2) 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 NYC95LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA147), Jul 10, 1995: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N48316), Hammonton, NJ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: failure of the collective yoke bearing, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with trees. A factor relating to the accident was: the manufacturer's inadequate inspection interval of… - [NTSB NYC84LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA055), Dec 18, 1983: Bell 47-G3B1 (N48316), Dummerston, VT, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93171. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442622&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation Hammock (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442623&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Hammock-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 377 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442624&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. --- 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.