# NTSB CHI84FEI01: Bell-Olympic Helicopters 47G2, N85341, Toledo, OH, July 31, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: July 31, 1984, 11:48 local (15:48 UTC)
- Place: Toledo, OH
- Location: 41.6639° N, 83.5552° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Toledo, OH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6639&lon=-83.5552&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12434
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84FEI01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12434/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84FEI01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - rotorcraft flight controls - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - remedial action - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - control interference - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - cyclic - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED TO PHOTOGRAPH AN OFFICE BUILDING. THE PHOTOGRAPHER STATED THAT AFTER EACH FLT OF ABOUT 10 MIN, THE PLT FLEW THE HELICOPTER TO THE LEFT & CENTER OF THE LANDING PAD, A FEW FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THEN MOVED THE ACFT SIDEWAYS TO THE CENTER OF THE PAD & SETTLED TO A LANDING. AT THE END OF THE 3RD FLT, HE USED THE SAME PROCEDURE. HOWEVER, AS THE HELICOPTER WAS MOVING SIDEWAYS, THE LEFT SKID STRUCK THE GROUND 3 TIMES A FEW FEET APART, THEN THE RIGHT SKID HIT THE GROUND & COLLAPSED. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE & WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE BURNING CRAFT, BUT THE PLT DIED APRX 2 WKS LATER FROM BURNS. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. OTHER PLTS WHO FLEW THIS HELICOPTER STATED THAT IF THE CYCLIC CONTROL WAS BUMPED WITH THE ACFT CLOSE TO THE GROUND, THE PLT MAY BE UNABLE TO ADJUST QUICKLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT GROUND CONTACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N85341](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85341-1989-03-22), registration cancelled 1989-03-22, S/N OLYMPIC02 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bell-Olympic Helicopters, Inc. 47G2
- Registry model: [Bell-Olympic Helicopters 47G2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-olympic-helicopters-47g2) (registry code 1181306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: OLYMPIC-02
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-435-A1D 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Olon Andrews Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 1983, 385 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TOL, 6 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 19840731036429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840731036429A), Jul 31, 1984: Bell 47G2, Toledo, OH, Destroyed. Skid struck ground 3 times while moving sideways. Skid collapsed. Cyclic bump near ground by photo gear possibility.

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.

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