# NTSB CHI04CA229: Bell 47G2, N96MB, Muncie, IN, August 14, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 14, 2004, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Muncie, IN - Coordinates: 40.154998, -85.316665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1550&lon=-85.3167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Indianapolis-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60126 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA229 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60126/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA229 ## Probable cause The engine failure for an undetermined reason, and the pilot's inability to properly level-off for landing due to the low rotor speed, which resulted in the hard landing. The low altitude where the engine failure occurred was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - performed, pilot in command - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - altitude - low (contributing factor) - rotor rpm - low (cause) - level off - not possible, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The helicopter was damaged when it impacted terrain during an attempted forced landing following a complete loss of engine power. The helicopter had just taken off and was at 50 feet altitude and 45 miles per hour when the pilot heard two loud "bangs" followed by a complete loss of power. The pilot stated that he performed an autorotation to a flat area near the airport. He stated that as he "approached touchdown [he] raised collective to cushion the impact but with so little altitude an autorotation gave very little rotor speed." He stated that the helicopter struck the ground in a level attitude while moving forward, the skids collapsed and the helicopter broke apart. No defects were found with respect to the helicopter's engine. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 2004, about 1500 eastern standard time, a Bell 47G2 helicopter, N96MB, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted the ground during an attempted forced landing. The helicopter was on initial climb after takeoff when it experienced a loss of engine power. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot and his one passenger were not injured. The helicopter had just departed the Reese Airport, Muncie, Indiana, for a local flight. The pilot reported that he had taken off from the Reese Airport and had made a turn to parallel the runway when he heard two loud "bangs" from the engine after which the engine stopped producing power. The pilot stated that he was at 50 feet and 45 miles per hour when the power loss occurred. The pilot stated that he performed an autorotation to a flat area near the airport. He stated that as he "approached touchdown [he] raised collective to cushion the impact but with so little altitude an autorotation gave very little rotor speed." He stated that the helicopter struck the ground in a level attitude while moving forward, the skids collapsed and the helicopter broke apart. A postaccident examination of the helicopter was conducted. During the examination, the engine was found to rotate. The engine produced compression on all cylinders when rotated by hand. No further components of the engine were tested. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96MB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96MB-2007-04-24), registration cancelled 2007-04-24, S/N 2443, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G2 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2443 - Airframe hours: 11712 - Engines: Lycoming VO-435 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gerald M. Conley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 23, 2004, 75 hours before - Departed: 7I2, MUNCIE, IN - Destination: MIE, MUNCIE, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 507 total, 68 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040814028089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040814028089A), Aug 14, 2004: Bell 47G2, Muncie, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 14, 2004 at 1545 EST, a Bell BHT-47-G2, N96MB, registered to gerald m. conley lost engine power and made an autorotation to Reese airport,… ## Other investigations on N96MB (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 MIA00LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA176), May 27, 2000: Bell 47G-2 (N96MB), Fort Walton Bch, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot-in-command during the forced landing and the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. 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.