# NTSB WPR09CA008: Bell 47J-2A, N8567F, Florence, AZ, October 11, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 11, 2008, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Florence, AZ - Coordinates: 32.988334, -111.34111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9883&lon=-111.3411&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 69265 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69265/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA008 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate compensation for a wind shift encountered during the landing approach, which resulted in a hard landing and rollover. Contributing to the accident was the encounter with the wind shift. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47J-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md?model=1181106), [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47J-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=1181106), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47J-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=1181106), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Bell 47J-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1181106), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47J-2A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1181106), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Bell 47J-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=1181106), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was preparing to land the helicopter at an off airport landing site and encountered a wind shift or wind shear on base leg that resulted in an uncommanded yaw followed by a rapid descent rate. Before impacting the ground the pilot was able to reduce the descent rate and level the helicopter. The accident site was desert terrain that sloped downward from the right to the left. During the accident sequence the helicopter rolled over. The pilot said that people on the ground told him that just prior to the accident there was a sudden wind storm that passed through the area that forced the people on the ground to take shelter inside an enclosure to escape the wind. The pilot stated that he had no communication with the people at the landing site and no knowledge of the wind storm. The pilot further stated that the helicopter and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The closest weather observation station, located 25 miles to the west, was reporting westerly winds at 20 knots, with gusts to 26 knots, at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was preparing to land the helicopter at an off airport landing site and encountered a wind shift or wind shear on base leg that resulted in an uncommanded yaw followed by a rapid descent rate. Before impacting the ground, the pilot was able to reduce the descent rate and level the helicopter. The accident site was desert terrain that sloped downward from the right to the left. During the accident sequence the helicopter rolled over. The pilot said that people on the ground told him that just prior to the accident there was a sudden wind storm that passed through the area that forced the people on the ground to take shelter inside an enclosure to escape the wind. The pilot stated that he had no communication with the people at the landing site and no knowledge of the wind storm. The pilot further stated that the helicopter and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The closest weather observation station, located 25 miles to the west, was reporting westerly winds at 20 knots, with gusts to 26 knots, at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8567F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8567F-2019-02-26), registration cancelled 2019-02-26, S/N 3714, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47J-2A - Registry model: [Bell 47J-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j-2a) (registry code 1181106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3714 - Airframe hours: 9537 - Engines: LYCOMING VO-540 SERIES 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Loflite LLC - Registered owner: Loflite LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: DVT, Phoenix, AZ - Destination: Florence, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 23, 2008; seat: center; flight hours: 12,000 total, 8 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 20 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: CGZ, 25 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 20081011850229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081011850229A), Oct 11, 2008: Bell 47J2A, Florence, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot and 2 passengers departed kdvt at 0900 MST en route to a remote location located at N32.59.30 W111.20.46. The pilot states that upon arrival to… ## Other investigations on N8567F (2) 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 MIA79FLD39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FLD39), Feb 14, 1979: Bell 47J-2A (N8567F), Kissimmee, FL, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW75FPG28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75FPG28), Nov 2, 1974: Bell 47J-2A (N8567F), Ft.Smith, AR, 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.