# NTSB SEA00LA124: Bell 47G, N30DP, Haines, OR, July 4, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 2000, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Haines, OR
- Coordinates: 44.939735, -117.97013 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9397&lon=-117.9701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49607
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49607/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA124

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to correctly judge his rate of descent and his failure to initiate his level off soon enough to keep the helicopter from impacting the terrain. Factors include hilly terrain near the edge of the field he was spraying.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - descent - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot, who had to approach his spray runs by flying over hilly terrain, misjudged his rate of descent and inadvertently delayed his level off. This resulted in the skids impacting the terrain, followed by the helicopter rolling over at least three times. There were no problems with the powerplant or the aircraft's flight control system.

## Factual narrative

On July 4, 2000, approximately 0730 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 47G helicopter, N30DP, impacted the terrain during an aerial application run near Haines, Oregon. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, received minor injuries, and the helicopter, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, which had been airborne for about 10 minutes, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, who had to approach his spray runs over rolling terrain, he had completed one run and was maneuvering for the second when the aircraft contacted the ground. He said that as he descended over a small hill while lining up for the second swath, he misjudged his rate of descent toward the terrain, and waited too long to initiate his level off. This resulted in the skids of the helicopter contacting the surface of the field. Immediately after the aircraft's skids touched the terrain, it rolled over at least three times. The pilot further stated that there did not appear to be any problems with the engine or the aircraft's flight control system.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30DP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30DP-2015-05-06), registration cancelled 2015-05-06, S/N 3751, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bell 47G
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TVO-435-GIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (registry code 41526, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3751
- Engines: Lycoming TVO-435-D1A 270 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Carl A. Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2000, 45 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,113 total, 319 in this make and model, 980 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F

## 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 20000704006959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000704006959A), Jul 4, 2000: Bell 47G3B1, Haines, OR, No damage. (-23) The pilot settled with power while spraying a potato field. The aircraft impacted with the ground and rolled three times. The helicopter was destroyed…

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.

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