# NTSB FTW02LA186: Bell 47G4, N62446, Grand Lake, LA, June 23, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2002, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Lake, LA - Coordinates: 30.033332, -93.269996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0333&lon=-93.2700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55021 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55021/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55021 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA186 ## Probable cause the pilot's inability to control the helicopter in a hover due to the restricted movement of the cyclic 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 - rotorcraft flight control,cyclic control - movement restricted (cause) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, hover - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The pilot had just finished spray operations prior to taking two passengers to look over a marsh area he had just sprayed for them. As the helicopter was equipped with dual controls, the pilot cautioned the passengers not to touch anything. When the pilot brought the helicopter to a hover, approximately 6 to 12 inches off the ground, the helicopter tilted forward. The pilot added aft cyclic, but the helicopter continued to tilt forward. He attempted to add more aft cyclic, but felt the cyclic bind up and could not move it aft any further. The pilot lowered the collective in an attempt to land, but the helicopter tilted to the right. The right skid dug into the ground, and the helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover, coming to rest on its right side where it caught fire and was destroyed. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2002, at 1130 central daylight time, a Bell 47G4 helicopter, N62446, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control while hovering near Grand Lake, Louisiana. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Deep South Helicopters, Inc., Jennings, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and one passenger received minor injuries, and one passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 observation flight, which was originating from an open field at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), and in a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he had just finished spray operations. The pilot then repositioned the helicopter to an open field prior to picking up two passengers he would take to survey the area he had just sprayed for them. The pilot occupied the left seat, one passenger occupied the center seat, and the remaining passenger occupied the right seat. As the helicopter was equipped with dual controls, the pilot cautioned both passengers "not to touch anything." The pilot reported that as he brought the helicopter to a hover, approximately 6 to 12 inches off the ground, the helicopter tilted forward "due to the forward center of gravity condition." The pilot added aft cyclic to counter the forward center of gravity condition; however, the helicopter continued to tilt forward. The pilot stated that "as I tried to add more aft cyclic, I felt the cyclic bind up and couldn't move it aft any further." He then lowered collective in an attempt to land, but the helicopter "tilted to the right." The right skid "dug" into the ground, and the helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover, coming to rest on its right side where it caught fire and was destroyed. An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported that control continuity could not be established due to the helicopter being destroyed by thermal and impact damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62446](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62446-2003-01-16), registration cancelled 2003-01-16, S/N 7655, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G4 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4a) (registry code 1181031) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 7655 - Engines: Lycoming VO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Deep South Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Hackberry, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 23, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 21,133 total, 1,204 in this make and model, 20,850 as pilot in command, 375 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LCH, 7 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 20020623015009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020623015009A), Jun 23, 2002: Bell 47G4A, Grandlake, LA, No damage. (-23) During take off from an unimproved landing area a passenger blocked the cyclic control resulting in the right skid contacting the ground. The aircraft… ## Other investigations on N62446 (1) 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 FTW82DRG07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DRG07), Nov 2, 1981: Bell 47G-4A (N62446), Telegraph, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55021. 805 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 480 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447701&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (2) (item 2, .PDF, 325 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447702&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement%20(2)-Master.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. --- 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.