- Date
- May 26, 1996, 17:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place
- Lakeway, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8412EBell 47J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 18, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960526011639A
- Case key
- 19851
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 a proper descent rate prior to landing.
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
According to the pilot, while flying approximately 200 feet AGL over a lake, he 'felt a push/cross wind (wind shear).' He stated that, 'it felt as if it were pushing me into the ground.' He then lowered the collective and 'added' forward cyclic to increase forward airspeed. After selecting a landing site, the pilot attempted to control the descent but, 'nothing was working' and the helicopter 'was going down fast.' Just prior to landing, the pilot 'flared with collective full up to lighten the impact.' The tail boom was structurally damaged during the landing due to impact with a large rock adjacent to the landing site. The pilot reported 20 knot winds, gusting to 30 knots. He stated that he encountered a quartering head wind during his approach to the landing site. According to the manufacturer, the reported wind component encountered would not have exceeded the performance capability of the helicopter. According to the pilot, gross weight limitations were not exceeded during the flight.
Factual narrative
On May 26, 1996, at 1710 central daylight time, a Bell 47J, N8412E, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while attempting to land near Lakeway, Texas. The commercial pilot and his 2 passengers were not injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by Air Dreams Helicopters of Austin, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Austin, Texas, at approximately 1645. A flight plan was not filed.
According to the pilot, while flying approximately 200 feet AGL over a lake, he "felt a push/cross wind (wind shear)." He stated that, "it felt as if it were pushing me into the ground." He then lowered the collective and "added" forward cyclic to increase forward airspeed. After selecting a landing site, the pilot attempted to control the descent but, "nothing was working" and the helicopter "was going down fast." Just prior to landing, the pilot "flared with collective full up to lighten the impact."
The tail boom was structurally damaged during the landing due to impact with a large rock adjacent to the landing site. During a post accident inspection of the aircraft by the operator and a FAA inspector, no mechanical defects were found that would have contributed to the accident event.
The pilot reported 20 knot winds, gusting to 30 knots. He stated that he encountered a quartering head wind during his approach to the landing site. According to the manufacturer, the reported wind component encountered would not have exceeded the performance capability of the helicopter.
According to the pilot, gross weight limitations were not exceeded during the flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8412E
- Reported as
- Bell 47J
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1800
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Keith Benedick
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 3R9 · Austin, TX
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
- 41
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,746 total · 2,517 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.