# NTSB CHI00LA204: Bell 47G-3B-1, N83701, Holstein, NE, July 16, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2000, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Holstein, NE - Coordinates: 40.459079, -98.649368 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4591&lon=-98.6494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49737 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49737/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA204 ## Probable cause the settling with power encountered by the pilot. A factor was the sudden windshift. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) - settling with power - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application ## Analysis The helicopter impacted the terrain while maneuvering during aerial application flight. In a written statement, the pilot said, "On the third pass at the top of my turn the wind came up strongly from the E-NE and what airspeed I had at the top of the turn dissipated and became a tailwind of approx[imately] 15-20 knots. I was diving back into the field now with a tailwind, out of translational lift and ended up with what I consider to be settling with power. At my current altitude of approx[imately] 50-60 feet I did not have sufficient room to reenter translational lift and contacted the ground." A postaccident examination of the aircraft failed to reveal any anomalies that could be associated with a preexisting condition. A weather reporting station located about 17 miles and 037 degrees magnetic from the accident site reported at 0753 cdt, wind variable at 03 knots. The same reporting station reported at 0853 cdt, wind variable at 03 knots gusting to 19 knots. At 0900 cdt, the reporting station reported thunderstorms in the vicinity ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2000, at 0900 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-3B-1, N83701, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain while maneuvering near Holstein, Nebraska. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported minor injuries. The local flight originated from Campbell, Nebraska, just prior to the accident time. In a written statement, the pilot said, "As I made my second pass I noticed that I had a wind from the north [at] approx[imatley] 3-5 mph." He said, "On the third pass at the top of my turn the wind came up strongly from the E-NE and what airspeed I had at the top of the turn dissipated and became a tailwind of approx[imately] 15-20 knots. I was diving back into the field now with a tailwind, out of translational lift and ended up with what I consider to be settling with power. At my current altitude of approx[imately] 50-60 feet I did not have sufficient room to reenter translational lift and contacted the ground." During a postaccident examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, no anomalies were found that could be associated with a preexisting condition. A weather reporting station located about 17 miles and 037 degrees magnetic from the accident site reported at 0753 cdt, wind variable at 03 knots. The same reporting station reported at 0853 cdt, wind variable at 03 knots gusting to 19 knots. At 0900 cdt, the reporting station reported thunderstorms in the vicinity. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83701](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83701-2017-02-28), registration cancelled 2017-02-28, S/N 67-17128, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G-3B-1 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3835 - Engines: Lycoming O-435-B1A 240 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Sky Tractor, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2000, 10 hours before - Departed: CAMPBELL, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,700 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 171 °F, dew point 158 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HSI, 17 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 20000716009729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000716009729A), Jul 16, 2000: Bell 47G3B1, Holstein, NE, No damage. (-23) Pilot was spraying with Bell-47 heli. Rapidly moving cold front produced "abnormal winds" as reported by witness. Witness observed heli pitch in a nose… ## Other investigations on N83701 (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 FTW97LA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA264), Jul 13, 1997: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N83701), Crossett, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of maintenance personnel to perform an adequate inspection of the fuselage center frame and detect a fatigue fracture of a longeron tube on the upper left side of the center frame, which… 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.