# NTSB FTW84LA130: Bell 47G-2A, N8478E, Benavides, TX, February 8, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 8, 1984, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Benavides, TX
- Coordinates: 27.62997, -98.499031 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6300&lon=-98.4990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21254
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA130
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21254/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA130

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, hover
  - miscellaneous - undetermined (cause)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - flare - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS HERDING CATTLE WHEN AN ENG FAILURE OCCURRED OVER A SMALL GROUP OF TREES. THE PLT AUTO-ROTATED AND THE ACFT LANDED HARD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8478E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8478E-1998-04-01), registration cancelled 1998-04-01, S/N 2676 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-2A
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2a) (registry code 1181012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2676
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-435-A1E 240 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Smith Helicopter,Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 13, 1983, 3 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 5,339 total, 1,717 in this make and model, 5,297 as pilot in command, 231 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19840208003139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840208003139A), Feb 8, 1984: Bell 47G2A, Benavides, TX, Substantial damage. Engine quit a 50 ft AGL while hearding cattle. Made hard landing. Main rotors struck trees. No engine defects noted

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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