# NTSB DEN07LA155: Bell 47G-3B-1, N360SS, Avondale, CO, September 12, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 12, 2007, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Avondale, CO - Coordinates: 38.083332, -104.433334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0833&lon=-104.4333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 66631 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66631/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07LA155 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain translational lift and his improper flare. A contributing factor in this accident was the sudden wind shift. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - lift-off - performed, pilot in command - translational lift - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - downhill ## Analysis The pilot took off downhill with no wind. The wind shifted to the west to a tailwind of 10 to 12 knots. The pilot said he was "unable to gain effective translational lift" and he attempted to land with a forward speed of 5 to 6 mph. He attempted to stop the helicopter but in doing so, "the tail skid struck the ground at the same time the skids did. Then the aircraft lurched forward, causing the main rotor to come in contact with the tail boom." The tail boom was severed and the skids were broken torsionally from the airframe. ## Factual narrative On September 12, 2007, approximately 1330 mountain daylight time, a Bell 57G-3B-1, N360SS, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing near Avondale, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's statement, he was crop dusting a field approximately 17 miles south of Pueblo. He took off downhill with no wind. The wind shifted to the west to a tailwind of 10 to 12 knots. The pilot said he was "unable to gain effective translational lift" and he attempted to land with a forward speed of 5 to 6 mph. He attempted to stop the helicopter but in doing so, "the tail skid struck the ground at the same time the skids did. Then the aircraft lurched forward, causing the main rotor to come in contact with the tail boom." An examination of the helicopter revealed the tail boom was severed and the skids were broken torsionally from the airframe. The helicopter came to rest upright. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N360SS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N360SS), registered now, S/N 3696 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G-3B-1 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TVO-435-GIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (registry code 41526, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3696 - Airframe hours: 7396 - Engines: Lycoming TVO-435-B1A 265 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Olathe Spray Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2007, 30 hours before - Departed: NONE, Avondale, CO - Destination: NONE, Avondale, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 27,532 total, 1,768 in this make and model, 353 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 20070912021869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070912021869A), Sep 12, 2007: Bell 47G3B1, Pueblo, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot in command he was conducting agricultural aircraft operations, 12 se of kpub. He moved his lz to an area in a canyon. His first… 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.