- Date
- October 12, 1991, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Catawissa, PA
- Injuries
- 4 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5NHBell 47G-3B-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 27, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911012045979A
- Case key
- 37088
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
Pilot factor in that the pilot used poor judgement and loaded more passengers than were seats on the helicopter this resulted in control interference and subsequent loss of control. Contributing was the pilot's failure to check the weight and balance for the flight which resulted in flight outside the forward limits.
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 helicopter had functioning dual controls installed. The pilot boarded three passengers, 2 large adults and one child (totaling 520 lbs) for a sightseeing flight. The three passengers were seated in a double seat and held by one seat belt. After takeoff, the pilot experienced an uncontrolled right turn and the right skid struck the ground flipping the helicopter over. He said the cyclic was jammed against one of the passengers leg. Post crash examination of the weight and balance disclosed the takeoff center of gravity was 1.3 inches forward of the forward limit.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5NH
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-3B-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3825
- Airframe hours
- 5,403
- Engine
- Lycoming TVO-435-D1B, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Sutliff Farms
- Registered owner
- Sutliff Farms
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 2, 2000 · 28 hours before
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
- 56
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 3,850 total · 1,730 in this make and model · 14 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.