- Date
- September 25, 1995, 19:30 local (Sep 26, 1995, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Union Church, MS
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N92HABell 47G-3B1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 1, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950925030259A
- Case key
- 37834
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
inadequate maintenance lubrication and inspection of the main rotor head which resulted in the separation of a rod end bearing.
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 pilot lost cyclic control shortly after takeoff. When engine power was reduced during the forced landing the helicopter pitched up and rolled to the left and the main rotor blades contacted the ground. Postcrash examination showed a rod end bearing on the main rotor head that connects the stabilizer bar to the damper had separated. The rod end bearing was found to not contain a significant amount of grease and was excessively worn which allowed the monoball to separate from the housing.
Factual narrative
On September 25, 1995, about 1930 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-3B1, N92HA, registered to an individual, crashed shortly after takeoff from a trailer at Union Church, Mississippi, while on a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that after takeoff from the landing trailer he lost cyclic control. He was able to maneuver the helicopter by use of engine power, main rotor rpm, and tail rotor control to a clear area about 1/2 mile from the takeoff point. When engine power was reduced for landing the helicopter pitched nose up and rolled to the left. The main rotor blades contacted the ground and the helicopter sustained damage.
Postcrash examination of the helicopter was performed by FAA inspectors and personnel from Bell Helicopter. The lower rod end bearing on one of the stabilizer to damper link assemblies was found separated causing a disconnection between the stabilizer bar and damper. Further examination of the separated rod end bearing was performed at Bell Helicopter by FAA and Bell personnel. The rod end bearing had excessive wear and a bronze insert used to secure the monoball in the bearing housing was missing. This allowed the link and rod end housing to separate from the monoball. The rod end bearing housing is fitted with a grease fitting. There was not a significant amount of grease in the rod end bearings. See the Bell Helicopter report.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N92HA
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-3B1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3696
- Airframe hours
- 6,191
- Engine
- Lycoming TVO-435-A1B, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Ward Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Mark A. Henry
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 8, 1995 · 65 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Invalid Medical for flight
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 21,000 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 16,450 as pilot in command · 151 in the last 90 days · 62 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MCB, 35 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.