- Date
- June 19, 1993, 11:19 local (16:19 UTC)
- Place
- Panama City, FL
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3628GBell 47G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 31, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930619019439A
- Case key
- 37365
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
Improper planning/decision by the pilot-in-command and his failure to maintain rotor RPM, which resulted in failure of the helicopter to attain effective translational lift. Factors related to the accident were: the fence & terrain 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 commercial pilot started to take off with a quartering tailwind. He stated that after lift-off, the helicopter encountered a downdraft & the rotor RPM began to deteriorate. He lowered the collective to compensate for the loss of rotor RPM & observed a fence, just ahead. Collective was increased to clear the obstacle, then a run-on landing was attempted. The right front skid hit a small bush, then the helicopter turned to the right & collided with a large rock covered with sand, and rolled over on its side. Review of weather information revealed no record of turbulence, downdrafts, gusts, or windshear.
Factual narrative
On June 19, 1993, at about 1119 central daylight time, a Bell 47G, N3628G, registered to Dane H. Harris, Jr., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 sightseeing flight, crashed on initial takeoff climb. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a private heliport about 1 minute before the accident.
The pilot stated in an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he was conducting a takeoff with a quartering tailwind. At about 50 feet agl he encountered a downdraft and the rotor rpm began to deteriorate. He lowered the collective pitch to compensate for the loss of rotor rpm and observed a fence to his immediate front. Collective pitch was increased to clear the obstacle and a running landing was attempted to the sand. The helicopter's left skid collided with a pine tree and the helicopter rolled over on its right side. The investigation continues.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3628G
- Reported as
- Bell 47G
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 808
- Engine
- Franklin 6V-335, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Harris, Jr., Dane H.
- Registered owner
- Harris,Jr., Dane H.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- NONE
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,700 total · 56 in this make and model · 1,200 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 7 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PFN, 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.
Other investigations on N3628G · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.