# NTSB FTW98TA099: Bell 47G-3B-1, N7901S, Magdalena, NM, January 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: January 15, 1998, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Magdalena, NM - Coordinates: 34.109153, -107.22927 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1092&lon=-107.2293&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20684 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98TA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20684/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98TA099 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm. A factor was a lack of recent experience in the type of operation being performed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The helicopter was being used in the Federal Government's predator control program. The pilot said he and his passenger were flying north and entered a draw. The prey they were chasing (a coyote) turned east and they flew over it at low airspeed and altitude. The pilot was having 'trouble maintaining rotor rpm.' With higher terrain in front and to his left, he elected to turn east in hopes of exiting the draw to the south. Trees and rough terrain forced him to continue eastward. The pilot found himself below a draw and he pulled collective control. This aggravated the low rpm condition, but the helicopter cleared the rim. On the other side of the rim, the ground sloped down at a 40 degree angle and the pilot tried to stretch his descent towards flatter terrain in an attempt to make a run-on landing. The helicopter impacted the terrain and was substantially damaged. The FAA inspector who went to the scene wrote, 'There is no apparent reason for the helicopter to have lost rpm. Review of the pilot records indicate only 14 hours of flight time in the last 90 days and no training in the last three years, and the last biennial flight review was almost 20 months ago.' ## Factual narrative On January 15, 1998, approximately 1530 mountain standard time, a Bell 47G-3B-1, N7901S, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while maneuvering near Magdalena, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and a passenger escaped injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the public use flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from a ranch near Magdalena. The helicopter was being used in the Federal Government's predator control program. The pilot said he and his passenger were flying north and entered a draw. The prey they were chasing (a coyote) turned east and they flew over it at low airspeed and altitude. The pilot was having "trouble maintaining rotor rpm." With higher terrain in front and to his left, he elected to turn east in hopes of exiting the draw to the south. Trees and rough terrain forced him to continue eastward. The pilot found himself below a draw and he pulled collective control. This aggravated the low rpm condition, but the helicopter cleared the rim. On the other side of the rim, the ground sloped down at a 40 degree angle and the pilot tried to stretch his descent towards flatter terrain in an attempt to make a run-on landing. The tail rotor guard and both skids contacted the ground and the helicopter slid 10 feet before striking a small drainage. The right skid dug into soft dirt and "catapulted the helicopter nose down into the air, tearing loose the right skid." The helicopter started to roll to the left. A main rotor blade struck the ground and pitched the helicopter back to the right. The helicopter came to rest upright. The tail boom was severed. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector was dispatched to the scene. In his accident report (FAA Form 8020-23) the inspector wrote, "Airmen competency is in question because with the existing conditions, there is no apparent reason for the helicopter to have lost rpm. Review of the pilot records indicate only 14 hours of flight time in the last 90 days and no training in the last three years, and the last biennial flight review was almost 20 months ago." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7901S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7901S-2018-01-09), registration cancelled 2018-01-09, S/N 6576 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G-3B-1 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 6576 - Airframe hours: 3293 - Engines: Lycoming TVO-435-B1A 270 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Registered owner: Desert Eagle Helicopters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 4, 1998, 10 hours before - Departed: NONE, MAGDALENA, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,877 total, 377 in this make and model, 1,799 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °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 19980115000369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980115000369A), Jan 15, 1998: Bell 47G3B1, Magdalena, NM, Substantial damage. Low flying for coyote survey encountered dwondraft unalbe to recover struck terrain. (.4)the helicopter was being used in the federal government's predator… ## Other investigations on N7901S (3) 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. - [NTSB LAX80DUK06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DUK06), Sep 24, 1980: Bell 47G3B1 (N7901S), Seligam, AZ, destroyed - [NTSB ANC76AA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76AA112), Jul 17, 1976: Bell 47G3B1 (N7901S), Petersburg, AK, destroyed, 2 fatal - [NTSB OAK71DVA40](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK71DVA40), Nov 19, 1970: Bell 47G3B1 (N7901S), Grant Cove, CA, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.