# NTSB CHI00TA306: Bell 47G-5A, N14841, Economy, IN, September 22, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: September 22, 2000, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Economy, IN - Coordinates: 39.970333, -85.080307 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9703&lon=-85.0803&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 53246 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00TA306 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53246/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00TA306 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain control of the helicopter while attempting a landing on unsuitable terrain. A factor associated with the accident was the grass covered, down slope in the terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - downhill (contributing factor) - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot lost control of the helicopter and it impacted the terrain on landing. The purpose of the flight was for aerial photography. The pilot reported the winds increased during the flight and he elected to make an off airport landing to take a break and see if the winds would subside. During touchdown, the helicopter tilted rearward. The pilot attempted to recover; however the tailrotor struck the ground and the helicopter became airborne, rotated to the right and reached an altitude of 10 feet to 15 feet. The pilot reduced the collective and closed the throttle at which time the helicopter landed hard. The pilot lost his hold on the collective and it rose from the impact. This caused the helicopter to begin rotating again, however it remained on the ground. The pilot pushed the collective back down and eventually got the engine shut down. The pilot reported that after the accident he checked the area and discovered that the ground had a downhill slope in the area where the rear portion of the skids would have been. He reported that the slope was obscured by grass. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 2000, at 1500 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47G-5A, N14841, operated by the Wayne County Sheriff's Department, collided with the terrain while landing in a field in Economy, Indiana. The commercial pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The public use flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Richmond, Indiana, at 1330 eastern daylight time. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was for aerial photography. He reported that the winds began to pick up during the flight, so he elected to make an off airport landing to take a break and see if the winds would subside. The pilot reported that he flew over the chosen landing area to check the site prior to landing. The pilot reported the approach and initial touchdown were normal. He reported, "After reaching the bottom limit of the collective pitch the helicopter tilted rearward. The pilot positioned the cyclic pitch forward and left lateral to try and level the helicopter, but the helicopter continued tilting rearward. The pilot continued cyclic correction and pulled power on the collective pitch. Simultaneous with this action the tailrotor struck the ground and the helicopter departed the ground forward, rotated to the right and reached an altitude of 10' to 15'. The pilot reduced the collective and closed the throttle at which time the helicopter landed hard just in front of the initial sit down point. Upon impacting the ground the pilot lost his hold on the collective and it raised from the impact. This caused the helicopter to begin rotating again, however it remained on the ground. The pilot pushed the collective back down, closed the throttle, pulled the idle cut-off lever and shut off the mags and battery/generator switches, but the engine did not shut down. The pilot pulled the fuel shut-off valve and the engine shut down about 15 seconds later." The pilot reported that after the accident he checked the area and discovered that the ground had a downhill slope in the area where the rear portion of the skids would have been. He reported that the slope was obscured by grass. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14841](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14841-2018-02-08), registration cancelled 2018-02-08, S/N 25080, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G-5A - Registry model: [Bell 47G-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5a) (registry code 1181034) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 25080 - Engines: Lycoming VO-435 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Operator: Wayne County Sheriff'S Office - Registered owner: John Solenberg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 18, 2000 - Departed: RID, RICHMOND, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,150 total, 1,150 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 169 °F, dew point 131 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MIE, 24 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 20000922036629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000922036629A), Sep 22, 2000: Bell 47G5A, Losantville, IN, No damage. (-23) The pilot set the helicopter half on gravel and on grass. The helicopter rocked backward as he put weight on the skids. He pushed forward cyclic with no… ## Other investigations on N14841 (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 WPR13CA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA084), Jan 3, 2013: Bell 47G (N14841), Five Points, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with a telephone pole during a low-level maneuver. - [NTSB MKC78DCD49](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78DCD49), Aug 29, 1978: Bell 47G-5A (N14841), Manson, IA, substantial damage 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.