# NTSB DFW05LA190: Bell 47G-4A, N4087L, Black Oak, AR, July 15, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2005, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Black Oak, AR - Coordinates: 35.829833, -90.360504 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8298&lon=-90.3605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 62050 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62050/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA190 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 10,370-hour commercial pilot was spraying the south end of a cotton field on a easterly heading at approximately 10 feet above the ground, when he heard the "engine [make] a surge in power." The pilot then scanned his engine instruments to see if he was having a problem, and all instrument indications were normal. The pilot then increased collective pitch after the helicopter began to lose altitude; however, the helicopter could not gain altitude. The helicopter impacted the ground in a level attitude, bounced into the air and began turning to the left. The pilot added left cyclic and thought he had the helicopter under control, when the left spray boom hit the cotton plants and started pulling the helicopter into the cotton. The helicopter subsequently "snapped" to the right and "started to tumble." The helicopter impacted terrain and came to rest on its right side. The reason for the reported engine power surge could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 2005, approximately 1345 central daylight time, a single-engine Bell 47G-4A turbine powered helicopter, N4087L, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Black Oak, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Custom Air LLC, of Louisville, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from a private heliport near Manila, Arkansas, approximately 1330. The 10,370-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he was spraying the south end of a cotton field on a easterly heading. While spraying at approximately 10 feet above the ground, he reported hearing, the "engine [make] a surge in power." The pilot then scanned his engine instruments to see if he was having a problem; however, all instrument indications were normal. The pilot added, he increased collective pitch when the helicopter began to lose altitude; however, the helicopter "could not gain altitude." The helicopter impacted the ground in a level attitude, bounced into the air and began turning to the left. The pilot then added left cyclic and thought he had the helicopter under control, when "the left spray boom hit the cotton [plants] and started pulling [the helicopter] into the cotton." The helicopter subsequently "snapped" to the right and "started to tumble." The helicopter impacted terrain and came to rest on its right side Examination of the helicopter by the pilot revealed that the tail boom was severed, the main rotor blades were damaged, and both landing skids separated from the airframe. The reason for the reported engine power surge could not be determined. At 1353, the automated observing system at the Blytheville Municipal Airport, near Blytheville, Arkansas, located approximately 23 miles west of the accident site reported wind from 330 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 4,100 feet, scattered clouds at 4,800 feet, and a broken cloud layer at 6,000 feet, temperature 81 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.91 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4087L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4087L-2013-10-29), registration cancelled 2013-10-29, S/N 7698, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G-4A - Registry model: [Bell 47G-4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4a) (registry code 1181031) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison T63 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-t63-series) (registry code 03031, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 7698 - Airframe hours: 8388 - Engines: Allison T-63 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Custom Air LLC - Registered owner: Custom Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 2005, 26 hours before - Departed: Manilla, AR - Destination: Black Oak, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 10,370 total, 2,068 in this make and model, 10,264 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KHKA, 23 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 20050715016059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050715016059A), Jul 15, 2005: Bell 47G4A, Black Oak, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 15, 2005 at 1345 local time rotorcraft N4087L, a Bell BHT-47-G4A piloted by [privacy data omitted] crashed in a field near Black Oak, Arkansas.… 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.