# NTSB ERA21LA272: Bell 47G-2A-1, N147AH, Brasstown, NC, June 28, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 28, 2021, 13:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: Brasstown, NC · On a private farm
- Coordinates: 35.05125, -83.949722 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0513&lon=-83.9497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103367
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA272
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103367/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103367
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA272

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inflight loss of control while conducting a hovering maneuver.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Training: total instruct/training recvd](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031510): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031510/cases.md?model=1181014), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031510/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=1181014), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181014), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181014), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The non-helicopter rated pilot reported that he had departed from a stationary trailer and hover taxied in ground effect. Upon reaching a taxiway that was parallel to the runway, he lost control of the helicopter and it impacted the ground multiple times before coming to rest on its side. A post-crash fire ensued and the helicopter was destroyed. The pilot stated that he believed he lost control of the helicopter and it had been “running fine” before the accident. Witnesses stated they observed the helicopter lift off from the transport trailer and that once the helicopter cleared the trailer, “it got real wobbly.” The main rotor blades struck the ground two or three times and while continuing forward, the right landing gear skid tube “hit the ground pretty hard”. They said, “the helicopter then bounced back into the air, spun to the right (clockwise) and landed on its left side.”

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N147AH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N147AH-2022-05-23), registration cancelled 2022-05-23, S/N 3774, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-2A-1 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2a-1) (registry code 1181014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3774
- Year built: 1968
- Airframe hours: 4286
- Engines: Lycoming VO-435 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 26, 2021, 10 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: PVT, Brasstown Field
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; flight instructor, private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 26, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,810.4 total, 14.3 in this make and model, 1,930 as pilot in command, 35.1 in the last 90 days, 17.1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: PVT

## 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 20210628011069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210628011069A), Jun 28, 2021: Bell 47G-2A-1, Brasstown, NC, Destroyed. On June 26, 2021 at approximately 1320, a Bell 47G lifted off from a transport trailer at a grass strip located in Brasstown, north carolina. After lifting off…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103367. 59.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 15.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12498877&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N147AH%20Granet%206120.1%20revised_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA onsite examination (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12499519&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspector%20On%20Site%20Observations%20LA272-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum of record witness statements (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12499329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20witness%20statement%20LA272-Rel.pdf
- NTSB record of conversation (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12499148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20form%20LA272-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 43.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12499468&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N147AH%206-28-21%20Granet%20maintenance%20records_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12499572&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA272-Rel.pdf

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.

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