- Date
- April 9, 1982, 16:30 local (Apr 10, 1982, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lyle, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N11VHBell 47G-2A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 9, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820409089409A
- Case key
- 71520
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Analysis
During takeoff with a load of fertilizer, insufficient power was available to maintain engine and rotor RPM and sustain flight. The pilot dumped the load, but was unable to avoid ground contact. The tail rotor struck first and separated from the aircraft. The density altitude was approximately 2800 ft. no mechanical failures were reported.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N11VH
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-2A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2027
- Airframe hours
- 8,119
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1D, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Valicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Valicopters, Inc.
- Departed
- Lyle, WA
- Destination
- Lyle, WA
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
- 34
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 2,892 total · 712 in this make and model · 2,839 as pilot in command · 95 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Temperature
- 131 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N11VH · 6
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.