- Date
- August 20, 2002, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Union, SC
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4702SBell 47-D1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20020820027009A
- Case key
- 55532
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 obstacle clearance.
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
The helicopter had completed an agricultural spraying flight and was in the processes of landing to refuel and re-load chemicals at a portable platform. As the helicopter approached the pad the tail rotor struck a trailer that was close to the pad, flipped forward coming to rest upside down on the other side of the trailer. The pilot had stated that he had no mechanical difficulties before the crash, and that everything was operating "normally." At the time of the accident there was about a 5 to 7 knot crosswind. The pilot was given an NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report Form 6120.1/2, by the FAA inspector, but a completed form was not received.
Factual narrative
On August 20, 2002, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47-D1, N4702S, registered to an individual, struck a mobile landing platform during a landing near, Union, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. No flight plan was filed for the agricultural flight that was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 137. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilot reported serious injuries. The flight had originated from the same platform about 1000.
According to the FAA inspector, that was at the crash site, the helicopter had completed an agricultural spraying flight and was in the processes of landing to refuel and re-load chemicals at a portable platform. As the helicopter approached the pad the tail rotor struck a trailer that was close to the pad. The helicopter then flipped forward coming to rest upside down on the other side of the trailer. The pilot told the FAA inspector, that he had no mechanical difficulties before the crash, and that everything was operating "normally." At the time of the accident there was about a 5 to 7 knot crosswind. The pilot was given an NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report Form 6120.1/2, by the FAA inspector, but a completed form was not received.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4702S
- Reported as
- Bell 47-D1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- B-101R
- Airframe hours
- 600
- Engine
- Franklin 6V35, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Eugene and Holly Mullis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special); Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 8, 2002 · 80 hours before
- Departed
- Union, SC
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
- 56
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- December 28, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,600 total · 1,600 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.05 inHg
- Observed at
- KGSP, 45 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.
Other investigations on N4702S · 4
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.