# NTSB CHI08LA151: Bell 47D1, N74898, Carrollton, OH, June 1, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 1, 2008, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Carrollton, OH - Coordinates: 40.561668, -81.077224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5617&lon=-81.0772&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68309 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68309/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68309 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA151 ## Probable cause The airframe vibration for an undetermined reason. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bell 47D1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=1180802), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47D1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1180802), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47D1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1180802), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Bell 47D1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=1180802), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had departed the airport and had flown about 8 miles when the helicopter's cyclic began to shake violently during cruise flight. When he attempted to land, he could not get the helicopter to hover so he attempted a run-on landing. The pilot reported that the helicopter's skid caught some high grass or rough terrain and then the helicopter rolled on its side. The pilot reported that the helicopter was operating normally prior to the accident. The inspection of the helicopter revealed no preexisting anomalies. ## Factual narrative On June 1, 2008, at 1330 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47D1 helicopter, N74898, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field after it experienced a severe shaking in the cyclic control during cruise flight near Carrollton, Ohio. The commercial helicopter pilot was not injured. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight departed the Carrollton County-Tolson Airport (TSO), Carrollton, Ohio, at 1315 en route to Wheeling, West Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he had departed TSO and had flown about 8 miles when the helicopter's cyclic began to shake violently. When he attempted to land, he could not get the helicopter to hover so he attempted a run-on landing. The pilot reported that the helicopter's skid caught some high grass or rough terrain and the helicopter rolled on its side. The pilot reported that the helicopter was operating normally prior to the accident. The inspection of the helicopter by a helicopter mechanic revealed no preexisting anomalies. A broken hydraulic hose was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board's Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) for inspection. The inspection of the hose revealed no pre-impact anomaly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74898](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N74898), registered now, S/N AIAT-68 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47D1 - Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6V-335 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v-335-series) (registry code 27039, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: A1A1-68 - Airframe hours: 2635 - Engines: Franklin O-325-5D reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas P. West - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2007, 47 hours before - Departed: TSO, Carrollton, OH - Destination: HLG, Wheeling, WV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 3,115 total, 125 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 13 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: PHD, 15 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 20080601840789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080601840789A), Jun 1, 2008: Bell 47D1, Amsterdam, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) 5 Min. After TSO, substantial cyclic shakes, reduces control and landed in the farmer's field. ## Other investigations on N74898 (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 MIA77DKJ37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77DKJ37), May 15, 1977: Bell 47D1 (N74898), Ozark, AL, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68309. 649 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 570 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40301399&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40301400&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40301401&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.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.