# NTSB MIA02LA101: Bell 47G-2, N6746D, Bunnell, FL, May 28, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 28, 2002, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Bunnell, FL - Coordinates: 29.467222, -81.20639 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4672&lon=-81.2064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54789 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54789/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54789 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA101 ## Probable cause The failure of the student pilot to secure the rotorcraft floorboard mounted ballast, resulting in shifting of the ballast on liftoff, and the subsequent dynamic rollover. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Roll over, takeoff - misc eqpt/furnishings - not secured (cause) - dynamic rollover - encountered, pilot in command - misc eqpt/furnishings - shifted (cause) ## Analysis As the student pilot was lifting off the grassy area between the runway and the taxiway, a sand bag being used as ballast shifted position on the right side floorboards, causing the rotorcraft to sustain a dynamic rollover to the right. ## Factual narrative On May 28, 2002, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47G-2, registered to S and J Investments, LLC., dba Wing and Rotor, Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed while attempting a liftoff at the Flagler County Airport, Bunnell, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed. The rotorcraft received substantial damage, and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was departing when the accident occurred. According to the student pilot, as he landed the rotorcraft, a sandbag on the right side floorboards being used for ballast shifted forward, but he was able to counter the weight shift and successfully completed the landing. He put a piece of cloth under the sandbag in an attempt to prevent further slippage, but as he lifted into a hover, a slight sideward slide in the grass caused the sandbag to again shift position on the floorboards. This caused the rotorcraft to roll toward its right side, resulting in a dynamic rollover to the right. The student stated that had he pushed the collective down and applied full left rudder, the accident could have been prevented. According to an FAA inspector, the student's physical stature is small, and he required sand bags as ballast on the right seat and floor for weight and balance considerations. The seat sandbag was secured by seat belt, but the floor sandbag was not secured and migrated on the cockpit floorboards toward the right seat flight controls during flight. The student landed at Flagler County Airport to secure the floor sandbag, but as he lifted off to continue flight, the ballast shifted again. The rotorcraft suffered a dynamic rollover, and came to rest on its right side. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6746D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6746D-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 2250, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G-2 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2250 - Airframe hours: 5500 - Engines: Lycoming VO-435-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: S & J Investments of Franklin, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 30, 2002, 24 hours before - Departed: GNV, Gainesville, FL - Destination: X47, Bunnell, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: X47, Flagler County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 35; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 105 total, 46 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 18 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020528014389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020528014389A), May 28, 2002: Bell 47G2, Bunnell, FL, No damage. (-23) Student pilot on 3rd leg of helicopter solo attempted takeoff from soft field and lost control and experienced dynamic rollover. Just prior to this the… ## Other investigations on N6746D (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 GAA20CA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA062), Nov 7, 2019: Bell 47G (N6746D), Groveland, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper cyclic input after a reported hydraulic failure, the reason for which could not be determined, and his failure to follow the emergency procedures, which resulted in a… - [NTSB FTW92LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA159), Jun 14, 1992: Bell 47G-2 (N6746D), Danbury, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR SKID DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT GROUND. - [NTSB MIA67A0084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA67A0084), Feb 14, 1967: Bell 47G-2 (N6746D), Donelson, TN, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54789. 294 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 294 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439380&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.