# NTSB ERA23LA157: Bell 47G-2A-1, N73905, Livonia, NY, March 21, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 21, 2023, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Livonia, NY · farm field flat terrain
- Coordinates: 42.826067, -77.585174 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8261&lon=-77.5852&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- 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): 106929
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106929/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106929
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA157

## Probable cause

The pilot’s delayed action to arrest the high descent rate during a practice autorotation in tailwind conditions which ultimately resulted in loss of control.

## Findings

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

- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1181014), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1181014), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1181014), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a practice autorotation with a tail wind, the pilot began the maneuver and the helicopter initially lost airspeed; the pilot immediately corrected with forward cyclic input, which also increased his descent rate. The higher than normal descent rate continued, and he began the power recovery earlier than normal. Shortly before touchdown, the pilot noticed a slope in the terrain with the rising side to his aft. The helicopter continued to descend and the helicopter’s tail rotor contacted the ground during the landing flare. The resulting impact resulted in a loss of control and substantial damage to the tail boom and tail rotor. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73905](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73905), registered now, S/N 2860, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-2A-1
- 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: 2860
- Year built: 1963
- Airframe hours: 9400
- Engines: Lycoming VO-435 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Frost Hollow Helicopter LLC
- Registered owner: Frost Hollow Helicopter LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2022, 10 hours before
- Airport: N/A

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 20,000 total, 460 in this make and model
- Student pilot; injuries: none; student; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 14 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observed at: ROC, 18 nm away
- METAR: METAR KROC 211754Z 26014G25KT 230V300 10SM SCT090 11/M04 A3030 RMK AO2 SLP267 T01061044 10106 20022 50005=

## 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 20230321002479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230321002479A), Mar 21, 2023: Bell 47G-2A-1, Livonia, NY, Substantial damage. On Tuesday March 21, 2023 [privacy data omitted], a Bell 47G-2A-1 crashed into a field with one pilot and one passenger aboard during a practice autorotation.…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106929. 6.3 MB in all.

- Record of conversation_pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15382271&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot and witness statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15374613&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Witness%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement_initial (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15375193&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Initial-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15376411&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statement%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf
- Photo array_accident site and helicopter damage (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15374623&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Accident%20Site%20and%20Helicopter%20Damage%20N73905-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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