- Date
- July 3, 2014, 08:10 local (15:10 UTC)
- Place
- Gaston, OR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N684PCBell 47G
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20140703010129A
- Case key
- 89602
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
The pilot's inability to maintain control of the helicopter as a result of a hydraulic hose becoming entangled around the right skid.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to perform a mosquito abatement aerial application. With the helicopter parked adjacent to the pond where the application was to occur, the helicopter ground crew installed a bucket and related dispersement equipment. They attached the hydraulic lines and straps, which were designed to connect in such a manner that they could be disconnected by the pilot in an emergency situation. The ground crew and pilot verified that the emergency features functioned properly and adjusted the hydraulic pressure. The bucket, located about two feet in front of the helicopter, was filled and the ground crew cleared the pilot for takeoff. The pilot raised the collective control and set his focus on a mirror affixed to the left skid in an effort to assess the bucket's height. As the helicopter lifted off, it lurched forward and, in response, the pilot applied aft cyclic. Despite the pilot's attempts, the helicopter continued to uncontrollably move forward and then assumed a nose-down attitude. The helicopter collided with terrain and rolled onto the left side substantially damaging the fuselage. Upon egressing the helicopter, the lead crew member showed the pilot that the hydraulic line was tangled around the right skid. The other crew members said that they observed the hose on the skid during taking off but, due to their vantage point, were unable to signal the pilot. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had raised the collective slower. He further added that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to perform a mosquito abatement aerial application. With the helicopter parked adjacent to the pond where the application was to occur, the helicopter ground crew installed a bucket and related dispersement equipment. They attached the hydraulic lines and straps, which were designed to connect in such a manner that they could be disconnected by the pilot in an emergency situation. The ground crew and pilot verified that the emergency features functioned properly and adjusted the hydraulic pressure. The bucket, located about two feet in front of the helicopter, was filled and the ground crew cleared the pilot for takeoff. The pilot raised the collective control and set his focus on a mirror affixed to the left skid in an effort to assess the bucket's height. As the helicopter lifted off, it lurched forward and, in response, the pilot applied aft cyclic. Despite the pilot's attempts, the helicopter continued to uncontrollably move forward and then assumed a nose-down attitude. The helicopter collided with terrain and rolled onto the left side substantially damaging the fuselage. Upon egressing the helicopter, the lead crew member showed the pilot that the hydraulic line was tangled around the right skid. The other crew members said that they observed the hose on the skid during taking off but, due to their vantage point, were unable to signal the pilot. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had raised the collective slower. He further added that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N684PC
- Reported as
- Bell 47G (3B2)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 6744
- Built
- 1969
- Airframe hours
- 7,198
- Engine
- Rolls Royce C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Western Helicopter Services Inc
- Registered owner
- Western Helicopter Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 18, 2014 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- Gaston, OR
- Destination
- Gaston, OR
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
- 31
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 9, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 962 total · 128 in this make and model · 924 as pilot in command · 104 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,500 ft broken
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 830 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.