- Date
- October 28, 1989, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6359EBell 47G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891028043609A
- Case key
- 32597
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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors related to the accident were: the unfavorable and gusty wind conditions.
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 plt stated that after making an apch for lndg into the wind, he flew the helicopter to a 6 ft hover. He initiated a left pedal turn to a heading of aprx 220 deg. On this heading, the wind was from the right rear. The plt rprtd there was an abrupt pitch-down of the helicopter's nose. He applied full aft cyclic & collective pitch, followed by right pedal in an attempt to turn the helicopter into the wind. Subsequently, the helicopter hit the ground with the right skid in a nose low attitude & was damaged. The plt estimated the wind was from 330 deg at 14 gusting 25 KTS. About 8 mi away at Palm Beach intl arpt, the wind was from 360 deg at 17 KTS. The helicopter had been loaded to its maximum allowable moment arm.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6359E
- Reported as
- Bell 47G
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- N6359E
- Airframe hours
- 696
- Engine
- Franklin 6V-335, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mark A. Young
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 30, 1988 · 42 hours before
- Airport
- LNA · Palm Beach County Park
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 515 total · 187 in this make and model · 398 as pilot in command · 38 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 17 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PBI, 8 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.