# NTSB CEN16LA213: Bell 47G 5, N6203N, Laureles, TX, June 9, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2016, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Laureles, TX - Coordinates: 26.109167, -97.494163 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1092&lon=-97.4942&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 12, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93354 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93354/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93354 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA213 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to apply additional engine power when he applied collective input, which led to a loss of rotor speed and the exceedance of the helicopter’s performance capability. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: powerplant parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that, while conducting a spray pass, he pulled on the helicopter's collective, and the rotor speed dropped. He lowered the collective, applied maximum throttle, and pulled on the collective again, but the rotor speed continued to drop. He then attempted to land in a nearby yard, but the tailboom struck a tree, and the helicopter then flipped on its right side. A witness, who was an experienced agricultural helicopter pilot, reported that he had flown with the accident pilot for about 12 hours in the accident helicopter, which was a piston engine-powered helicopter that did not have a throttle governor, to familiarize him with managing the throttle. He stated that the accident pilot's previous experience was in turbine-powered helicopters that had a throttle governor. The witness stated that he was in the field watching the accident pilot perform spraying operations. The pilot made a downwind pass in the field in a tight area. He said that, when the pilot pulled up to climb above the trees at the end of the pass, he heard the engine "bog down" and that he thought that the pilot had pulled the collective without adding throttle. A postaccident examination of the helicopter and a test run of the engine revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. Based on this evidence, it is likely that the pilot failed to apply engine power when he applied collective input, which resulted in a loss of rotor speed and an exceedance of the helicopter's performance capability. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2016, about 1630 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-5 helicopter, N6203N, was substantially damaged during a loss of control while performing agricultural spraying operations near Laurels, Texas. The pilot received minor injuries. The helicopter impacted a tree and the ground and sustained damage to the fuselage, landing gear, and main rotor system. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Hendrickson Flying Service, 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 was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated at an unconfirmed time. The pilot reported that while conducting a spray pass, he pulled on the collective and the rotor speed dropped. He said that he lowered the collective, applied maximum throttle and pulled on the collective again but the rotor speed continued to drop. He then attempted a landing in a yard next to a house where the tail boom struck a tree and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. A witness, who was an experienced agricultural helicopter pilot reported that he had flown with the accident pilot for about 12 hours in the accident helicopter. He stated that the accident pilot's previous experience was in turbine powered helicopters with governed throttle. He flew with him to familiarize him with managing throttle on the piston engine powered Bell 47 that did not have a throttle governor. The witness stated that he was in the field watching the accident pilot perform spraying operations. The pilot made a downwind pass in the field in a tight area where the helicopter was in and out of the field quickly. He said that when the pilot pulled up for the trees at the end of the pass he heard the engine "bog down." He said that he thought that the pilot had pulled collective without adding throttle. A postaccident examination of the helicopter and a satisfactory test run of the engine disclosed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have prevented normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6203N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6203N), registered now, S/N 7875, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G 5 (5) - Registry model: [Bell 47G-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (registry code 1181032) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 7875 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 9665 - Engines: LYCOMING VO-435 B1A 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Hendrickson Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Hendrickson Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 26, 2016 - Departed: Laureles, TX - Destination: Laureles, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: HRL, 11 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 20160609024669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160609024669A), Jun 9, 2016: Bell 47G-5, Laureles, TX, Substantial damage. During pull up maneuver pilot missed managed controls. This was due to lack of experience managing throttle control on a piston Bell 47. During an attempt to… ## Other investigations on N6203N (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 MKC73DCG06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73DCG06), Sep 2, 1972: Bell 47G-5 (N6203N), Forsyth, MO, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93354. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445126&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445127&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445128&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445129&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-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.