# NTSB CHI02LA142: Bell 47G-4, N1915B, Muncie, IN, May 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 2002, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Muncie, IN - Coordinates: 40.129909, -85.380355 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1299&lon=-85.3804&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration IND FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54805 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54805/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54805 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA142 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain directional control during hover taxi. Inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions, the light rain, and the light pole were factors in the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - object - pole (contributing factor) - Fire, other ## Analysis The helicopter contacted a light pole during an off airport takeoff. The pilot reported that a light rain was present when he was hover taxiing toward an open parking lot for takeoff to the north. He stated that as the helicopter lifted into hover position the wind moved the aircraft to the right. According to the pilot, the rain on the windshield prevented him from seeing the 27 foot high light pole in front to the right and the main rotor blade struck the light pole six inches from the tip end of the blade. The pilot reported that the helicopter subsequently rolled over and caught fire. He and one passenger exited the aircraft without injury. The wind was reported to be 340 degrees at 13 knots at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 2002, at 1420 eastern standard time, a Bell 47G-4 helicopter, N1915B, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed by a post-impact fire when the main rotor blade inadvertently struck a light pole and the aircraft rolled over in Muncie, Indiana. The takeoff was being conducted at an off-airport site. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and the one passenger reported no injuries. The flight was to depart from Muncie, Indiana, at the time of the accident and had the intended destination of the Indianapolis Brookside Airpark, Indianapolis, Indiana. According to the pilot's written statement, a light rain had started prior to departure. He stated that he began to hover taxi toward an open parking lot for takeoff to the north. The pilot reported, "Upon lifting the helicopter to hover position, the wind moved me slightly to my right. The rain on the bubble was the main factor preventing me from seeing the 27 foot high light pole ..." The pilot stated that the main rotor blade struck the pole to the right and in front of the aircraft, six inches from the tip end of the blade. According to the pilot, the helicopter rolled over to the right and caught fire. The pilot stated that he and his passenger exited the helicopter to the front through the broken plastic bubble. The wind was reported to be 340 degrees at 13 knots at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1915B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1915B-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N 3355, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G-4 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4) (registry code 1181030) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3355 - Airframe hours: 7485.5 - Engines: Lycoming VO-540-B1B3 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John Farson - Registered owner: J.F. Airways Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 2002, 24.5 hours before - Departed: Muncie, IN - Destination: I21, Indy Brookside, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 7, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 1,752 total, 1,506 in this make and model, 1,609 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 13 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KMIE ## 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 20020524019919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020524019919A), May 24, 2002: Bell 47G4, Muncie, IN, Destroyed. (.19) On may 24, 2002, at 1420 central daylight time, helicopter Bell 47G-4, N1915B, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when the main rotor… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54805. 397 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 397 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438661&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.