- Date
- July 30, 1985, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Minot, ND
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1041BBell 47G-4A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 16782
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 plt was engaged by a deputy sheriff to fly the helicopter about 2-1/2 mi to the Minot intl arpt for impoundment. During takeoff, it began climbing, then the plt lost control & the helicopter entered a descent & crashed. Initial impact occurred about 35 ft from the departure point. During impact, the tail boom separated, the main rotor blades were damaged, the skids were bent & the front of the glass canopy was broken. The plt indicated that he had 1100 hrs total time in this make & model of helicopter, but had not flown in the last 90 days. He had a recent medical exam, but the medical examiner did not issue a certificate. During an exam of the helicopter & a subsequent eng run, no malfunction or failure was found that would have contributed to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1041B
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-4A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 7653
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540-B1B3, 280 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Haugen Contruction
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 20, 1983 · 1,525 hours before
- Destination
- MOT
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
- 51
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,100 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point -0 °F
Other investigations on N1041B · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.