# NTSB MIA87LA145: Bell 47G-2, N202CH, Rolling Fork, MS, April 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 25, 1987, 10:13 local (15:13 UTC)
- Place: Rolling Fork, MS
- Coordinates: 32.900856, -90.86975 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9009&lon=-90.8697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31902
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31902/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA145

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wind information - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown
- Propeller/rotor contact to person, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

WHILE LANDING DOWNWIND, AT AN ALT OF APRX 20 FEET, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SETTLE WITH POWER. THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE DESCENT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT ALT & AIRSPEED, WAS UNABLE. THE HELICOPTER THEN LANDED HARD, ROLLED OVER, AFTER WHICH, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STOPPED ROTATING AFTER CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N202CH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N202CH), registered now, S/N 301, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-2
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 301
- Airframe hours: 7822
- Engines: LYCOMING V0-435-A1E 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bills Air Service
- Registered owner: Bills Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 1986, 62 hours before
- Airport: RFK, Rollang

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,850 total, 38 in this make and model, 8,665 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLU, 67 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 19870425011399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870425011399A), Apr 25, 1987: Bell 47G2, Rolling Fork, MS, Substantial damage. The helicopter landed hard and rolled over after a downwind approach.

## Other investigations on N202CH (1)

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 ERA16LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA167), Apr 20, 2016: Bell 47D1 (N202CH), Myerstown, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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.

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