- Date
- November 2, 2002, 09:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place
- Pollock Pines, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2616BBell 47G-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 28, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20021102030459A
- Case key
- 56014
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 adequate obstruction clearance during initial climb, which resulted in a collision with vegetation.
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
During initial climb from a 3,500-foot mean sea level plateau, the helicopter's skid collided with a 3-foot-high bush. The helicopter yawed and impacted the ground. The pilot reported that the collision occurred after he had increased the helicopter's collective pitch and accelerated to about 20 knots, thereby starting to acquire effective translational lift.
Factual narrative
On November 2, 2002, about 0910 Pacific standard time, a Bell 47G-2, N2616B, collided with a bush and terrain during an attempted takeoff from a plateau near Pollock Pines, California. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The second passenger received a minor injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was operated for hire on a photography flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, by D. C. Rotor & Wing, Rancho Murieta, California. The flight originated from Rancho Murieta about 0810.
The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he flew to the plateau and landed. The two passengers exited the helicopter to take pictures. The helicopter's engine was kept running. Thereafter, the passengers reboarded the helicopter to continue their flight. The pilot stated that because of the ambient conditions, including the 3,500-foot mean sea level elevation and estimated 40-degree Fahrenheit temperature, the helicopter did not have adequate power to make a normal departure from a hover. However, the pilot indicated that he believed there was sufficient clear area over the rocky terrain to perform a running takeoff.
According to the pilot, during the accident sequence he increased the helicopter's collective pitch and accelerated to about 20 knots thereby starting to acquire effective translational lift. During this initial climb a skid collided with a 3-foot-tall bush. The helicopter suddenly yawed and impacted the ground.
In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report" he stated that "...the purpose of the flight was to encourage [one of the passengers] to resume her flight training with D.C. Rotor."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2616B
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2475
- Airframe hours
- 7,232
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1F, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- D. C. Rotor & Wing
- Registered owner
- Gregory J. Desy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 17, 2002 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- Pollock Pines, CA
- Destination
- RIU · Rancho Murieta, CA
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
- 39
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- February 23, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 313 total · 90 in this make and model · 217 as pilot in command · 42 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- AUN, 28 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.