- Date
- October 5, 1995, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place
- Freer, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4423Bell 47-G2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 29, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951005048789A
- Case key
- 19682
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines due to his improper takeoff technique. A factor was the helicopter induced blowing dust which impaired the pilot's visibility.
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.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he took off from a road with the winds from the north at 1-3 knots. During the initial climb, 'extremely dusty conditions' from the rotor wash prevented him from seeing the power lines. A skid hooked the lines and the aircraft rotated to the right. The pilot further reported that he increased collective pitch; however, the tail rotor blades contacted the lines and tail rotor control was lost immediately.
Factual narrative
On October 5, 1995, at 0915 central daylight time, a Bell 47-G2, N4423, registered to and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91 was substantially damaged following impact with power lines near Freer, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and a flight plan was not filed. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries and his passenger was not injured. The flight was originating, at the time of the accident, from the Caramucha Ranch.
The pilot reported that he initiated a takeoff from a county road, with the winds from the north at approximately 1-3 knots. During initial climb, "extremely dusty conditions from [the] rotor wash" prevented him from seeing the power lines. A skid "hooked the lines and the aircraft rotated to the right." The pilot further reported that he increased collective pitch; however, "the tail rotor blades contacted the lines and tail rotor control was lost immediately." The pilot responded by "chopping" the throttle and cushioning the landing with the collective.
Examination of the aircraft revealed that the tailboom had separated from the helicopter, the centerframe was structurally damaged, and the main rotor blades had partially separated from the aircraft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4423
- Reported as
- Bell 47-G2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 295
- Airframe hours
- 4,458
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435 AID, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kenneth A. Wilson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 13, 1995 · 94 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,100 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 45 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 17 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LRD, 65 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.
Other investigations on N4423 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.