- Date
- September 10, 1996, 16:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- Rangely, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1335XBell 47G-3B-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 23, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960910035739A
- Case key
- 20002
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 excessive cyclic control input during a low altitude operation, and his failure to maintain altitude/clearance from high vegetation (sage brush). The proximity of high vegetation was a related factor.
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
While attempting to turn some horses, the pilot applied excessive aft cyclic control and the tail rotor struck a large sage brush. Directional control was lost and the helicopter turned right. The pilot attempted a 'hovering autorotation' from 15 feet and a hard landing ensued. The main rotor blades struck and severed the tail boom, and the right skid collapsed.
Factual narrative
On September 10, 1996, approximately 1615 mountain daylight time, a Bell 47G-3B-1, N1335X, was substantially damaged during a hard landing near Rangely, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the business flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated near Rangely approximately 1530.
The following is based on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report and a conversation the pilot had with an FAA inspector. The pilot was working under a Bureau of Land Management contract. While attempting to turn some horses, he applied excessive aft cyclic control and the tail rotor struck a large sage brush. Directional control was lost and the helicopter turned right. The pilot attempted a "hovering autorotation" from 15 feet and a hard landing ensued. The main rotor blades struck and severed the tail boom, and the right skid collapsed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1335X
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-3B-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 6556
- Airframe hours
- 10,131
- Engine
- Lycoming TVO-435-B1A, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Clifford J. Heaverne
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 15, 1996 · 42 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
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
- 53
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 22,478 total · 9,264 in this make and model · 22,054 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F
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 N1335X · 4
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.