- Date
- November 4, 1989, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Westfield, MA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N57919Bell 47G-3B1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891104044329A
- Case key
- 36581
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
Loss of aircraft control for an undetermined reason, which resulted in the tail rotor striking the ground and separating from the helicopter.
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 said he was making clearing turns when he had a problem with the cyclic control. The helicopter went out of control and collided with the terrain. There was evidence the tail rotor blades had separated after contacting the ground. No discrepancies were found with the hydraulic system or flight controls.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N57919
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-3B1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3828
- Engine
- Lycoming TVO-435, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Belchertown Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Belchertown, MA
- Destination
- BAF · Westfield, MA
- Airport
- BAF · Barnes Muni
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 265 total · 209 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 25 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.