FTW84FA102

NTSB accident investigation · Bell 47G-2A-1 · Hughes, AR · December 24, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
December 24, 1983, 09:38 local (15:38 UTC)
Place
Hughes, AR
Injuries
1 fatal, 2 serious
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N124CDBell 47G-2A-1
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19831224064839A
Case key
21095

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightLanding - flare/touchdown
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Aircraft weight and balance - exceededPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - unfavorable windFactor
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - not possiblePilot in command
In flight collision with objectLanding
Object - tree(s)Factor
Touch-and-go - attemptedPilot in command

Analysis

The plt & observer were on a flt to rescue 2 duck hunters, stranded in a boat that became stuck in ice, 500 to 600 ft from shore. After removing the rgt door, they planned to pick up 1 hunter at a time on the rgt skid while the observer held onto him thru the open door. After circling in gusty winds, the plt was able to hover at the bow of the boat. As the 1st hunter climbed onto the rgt skid, the helicopter banked to the rgt, and subsequently, entered a spin to the rgt. However, the plt regained control & continued to the landing area while remaining in a constant rgt turn. As he entered a 5 ft hover to land, the acft pitched forward. The plt pulled the collective to gain alt, but the acft entered a rgt roll & turn, and subsequently struck several trees & crashed. An investigation revealed the CG exceeded the forward limit by .33 inches & the right CG limit by 5.2 inches. The acft was not equipped for lateral loads & no lateral CG limits were listed in the flt manual. Those equipped for litters (lateral loads) were rigged with additional cyclic ctl.

Aircraft

Registration
N124CD
Reported as
Bell 47G-2A-1
Category
Helicopter
Serial number
3750
Airframe hours
3,769
Engine
Allison 250, turbo shaft
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Public aircraft · Part 91
Registered owner
Memphis Police Dept.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
Memphis, TN

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
44
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
5,742 total · 2,575 in this make and model · 5,501 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
340° at 13 knots, gusting 20
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
6,000 ft broken
Temperature
10 °F
Observed at
MEM, 30 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.