# NTSB MIA98LA170: Bell 47G, N182JR, Bunnell, FL, May 28, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 28, 1998, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Bunnell, FL - Coordinates: 29.460466, -81.25045 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4605&lon=-81.2505&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38527 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38527/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA170 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command(CFI) failure to maintain control of the aircraft. ## Analysis The CFI stated he was providing instruction to the student pilot on how to conduct a normal landing. He said that everything was normal until the wind '... probably shifted during the approach'. He stated that '... upon loosing E.L.T. (he) came up with the collective and the helicopter settled down without any reaction to the rate of descent'. Once the helicopter touched down, it bounced back up. The hard landing caused the main rotor blade to flex down and strike the tailboom causing substantial damage to the helicopter. The CFI stated that when the helicopter was 8 to 10 feet over the ground, it started to lose altitude. The pilot claims to have responded by applying pitch. The commercial-rated CFI had about 500 hours of rotary flight time. He had 5 hours of instructional time. This was the first instructional flight in the Bell 47 helicopter. The surface weather observation at Daytona Beach International, about 19 nautical miles south of Flagler County Airport, reported winds from 310 magnetic at 10 knots at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 28, 1998, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47G helicopter, N182JR, registered to S&J Investments, operated by Wing and Rotor International as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed on landing near Bunnell, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The commercial-rated CFI and student pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated from Flagler County Airport, Bunnell, Florida, at 1600. The CFI stated he was providing instructions to the student pilot on how to conduct a normal landing. He said that everything was normal until the wind "...probably shifted during the approach". He stated that "...upon loosing E.L.T. (he) came up with the collective and the helicopter settled down without any reaction to the rate of descent". The CFI also said that "...the collective was not efficient". Once the helicopter touched down, it bounced back up. At that moment, the pilot and the student heard the main rotor blade striking the tailboom. The instructor said that he verified that nobody was hurt and proceeded to shut down the engine and inspect the damage. The FAA inspector that responded to the accident conducted an interview of the CFI. During that interview, the pilot stated that the student pilot had been complaining about the anti torque pedals being too close to his legs, causing a cramp. The CFI decided to land to make the appropriate adjustment. According to the inspector's statement, when the helicopter was 8 to 10 feet over the ground, it started to lose altitude. The CFI claims to have responded by applying pitch. The helicopter landed hard causing substantial damage. The commercial-rated CFI had about 500 hours of rotary flight time. He had 5 hours of instructional time. This was the first instructional flight in the Bell 47 helicopter. The surface weather observation at Daytona Beach International, 19 nautical miles south of Flagler County Airport, at the time of the accident reported winds from 310 magnetic at 10 knots. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command(cfi) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - descent - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Aircraft - Registration: [N182JR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N182JR-2019-10-17), registration cancelled 2019-10-17, S/N 22, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G - Registry model: [Bell 47G](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g) (registry code 1181002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 22 - Airframe hours: 9000 - Engines: Franklin V335 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wing And Rotor International - Registered owner: S&J Investments - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 28, 1998, 30 hours before - Departed: X47 - Airport: X47, Flager County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 500 total, 6 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 19 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 19980528011249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980528011249A), May 28, 1998: Bell 47G, Bunnell, FL, Substantial damage. On may 28, 1998, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47G helicopter, N182JR registered to s & j investments, operated by wing and rotor international as a… ## Other investigations on N182JR (3) 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 MKC89LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA195), Sep 2, 1989: Bell 47G (N182JR), Ozark, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE DUAL STUDENT TO PROPERLY FLARE DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE RIGHT SKID. THE CFI ALSO FAILED TO PROPERLY MONITOR THE… - [NTSB LAX85LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA079), Dec 22, 1984: Bell 47G (N182JR), Chatsworth, CA, destroyed - [NTSB LAX80FUQ11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FUQ11), Feb 26, 1980: Bell 47G (N182JR), Pacoima, CA, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.