# NTSB DFW05CA231: Bell 47, N8494E, Monette, AR, August 16, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 16, 2005, 15:16 local (20:16 UTC) - Place: Monette, AR - Coordinates: 35.866664, -90.566665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8667&lon=-90.5667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: LIT FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62422 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05CA231 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62422/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA231 ## Probable cause The loss of control as result of a loss of hydraulic pressure for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect - hydraulic system - failure (cause) - hydraulic system - undetermined (cause) - Hard landing, emergency landing ## Analysis The 22,000-hour commercial pilot was in a two-foot hover when there was an indication of a hydraulic failure. Control of the helicopter became increasingly difficult and the pilot made an emergency landing. The helicopter landed hard, which resulted in the failure of a landing gear skid, main rotor blade strikes and a post-impact fire. Due to the post-impact fire, the reason for the reported hydraulic failure could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2005, approximately 1516 central daylight time, a single-engine Bell 47 helicopter, N8494E, was destroyed when it made an emergency landing near Monette, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by Craft Flying Service, Inc., of Weiner, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. The 22,000-hour pilot reported that the helicopter was in "hover mode" when there was an indication of a hydraulic failure. Controlling the helicopter became increasingly difficult and he attempted to make an emergency landing, which resulted in the failure of a landing gear skid. Subsequently, the main rotor blade collided with the ground. A post-impact fire ensued which destroyed the helicopter. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, stated that the "helicopter lifted off the ground 2 feet, settled back down," and then "caught on fire and burned." Weather reported at the Jonesboro Municipal Airport (JBR) at 1453 reported wind from 220 degrees at 11 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 90 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 72 degrees Fahrenheit and a barometric pressure setting of 30.01 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8494E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8494E-2013-05-14), registration cancelled 2013-05-14, S/N 2716, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b) (registry code 1181026) (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: 2716 - Engines: Lycoming TVO-435-A1A 265 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Craft Flying Service Inc., doing business as Application - Registered owner: Craft Flying Service In. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Monette, AR - Destination: Monette, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; seat: left; flight hours: 22,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 21,500 as pilot in command, 400 in the last 90 days, 157 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: JBR ## Other investigations on N8494E (2) 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 SEA97LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA168), Jul 14, 1997: Bell 47G-3B (N8494E), Idaho Falls, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot mismanaged his fuel supply which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. Factors contributing to the accident were the lack of adequate altitude and airspeed to… - [NTSB MIA67A0111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA67A0111), Apr 24, 1967: Bell 47G-3B (N8494E), Athens, AL, destroyed 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.