# NTSB CHI07LA277: Bell 47G-5A, N25LB, Anoka, MN, August 24, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 24, 2007, 13:05 local (18:05 UTC) - Place: Anoka, MN - Coordinates: 45.247044, -93.432289 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2470&lon=-93.4323&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66562 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07LA277 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66562/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA277 ## Probable cause The loss of helicopter pitch control for undetermined reasons during the aerial application maneuver and the pilot's inability to control the aircraft during the descent.. A contributing factor to the accident was the soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering - aerial application - rotorcraft flight control - failure (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - Forced landing, descent - uncontrolled - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis While maneuvering during an aerial application, the helicopter pilot reported hearing a "CA-BANG" sound followed by a loss of pitch control. The pilot was unable to control the helicopter's rate of descent during the emergency landing and hence impacted on sandy terrain and nosed over. An examination of the wreckage showed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 2007, about 1305 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-5A helicopter, N25LB, operated by Scotts Helicopter Service, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over on impact with terrain during an emergency landing following a reported loss of pitch control near Anoka, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. The airline transport pilot reported minor injuries. The local flight departed about 1257 from an area about three miles southeast of the accident site. The pilot said that when he let down into the site and arrested the descent with collective pitch control, he heard a loud "CA-BANG" behind him, like something had failed. At the same time the collective "bottomed out" and the helicopter began to descend. The pilot said that he tried to lift the collective but it would not move. He said he used the cyclic to "get a little altitude back." The pilot was first going to try and land on the road straight ahead, but a car was heading towards him, so he elected to try a run on landing in a park on the blacktop. Due to the lack of pitch control, the pilot was unable to make his intended landing site. He put the helicopter down on the soft ground next to the blacktop where it nosed over. An examination of the helicopter's flight controls and other systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25LB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N25LB), registered now, S/N 25102, 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: [Allison 250 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-series) (registry code 03014, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 25102 - Airframe hours: 13359.8 - Engines: Allison A-250-C10D 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Scotts Helicopter Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 2007 - Departed: Anoka, MN - Airport: KANE, Anoka County-Blane Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: serious; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 8,505 total, 3,150 in this make and model, 6,805 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: ANE ## 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 20070824019979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070824019979A), Aug 24, 2007: Bell 47G5A, Ramsey, MN, Destroyed. (-23) During mosquito control application and enroute from aerial application area to nearby parking lot, pilot heard a loud pop then immediately lost pitch… ## Other investigations on N25LB (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 GAA16CA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA293), Jun 8, 2016: Bell 47G (N25LB), Hastings, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to attain a positive rate of climb during takeoff from a service truck, which resulted in an impact with terrain and substantial damage to the tail boom and fuselage. 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.