- Date
- August 14, 1989, 18:07 local (23:07 UTC)
- Place
- Wisconsin Dells, WI
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N49HBBell 47G-2A-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890814029249A
- Case key
- 14272
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Attempt by the pilot to exceed the hover performance capabilities of the helicopter, and operating outside the weight and balance limitations. The pilot's overconfidence in the helicopter's ability and his subsequent failure to adequately prepare and plan properly for the accident flight are factors.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The accident helicopter, operating as an aerial sight-seeing concession, failed to sustain flight and landed hard after attempting a downwind takeoff from a raised helipad (pinnacle). The investigation showed that the helicopter was too heavily loaded to hover out of ground effect at the density attitude (2500 feet) of the accident site and the center of gravity was outside of the allowable range. The pilot stated during an interview that he perceived a power loss after clearing the pinnacle and was unable to maintain rotor RPM with the throttle full open. Post accident inspection of the helicopter showed no defects in the airframe or powerplant. According to witnesses at the scene the accident, the helicopter took off from the pinnacle in a generally easterly direction. When the pilot was asked about the winds at the time of the takeoff, he described them as westerly at approximately 6 to 8 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N49HB
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-2A-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3562
- Airframe hours
- 8,463
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1F, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- W.E. Mcdermott
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 25, 1988 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- WS07 · Wisconsin Dells, WI
- Destination
- WS07
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,509 total · 200 in this make and model · 2,314 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- VOK
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.