# NTSB WPR22LA096: Bell 47, N1023V, Fallon, NV, February 11, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 11, 2022, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Fallon, NV - Coordinates: 39.499169, -118.74879 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4992&lon=-118.7488&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104639 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104639/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104639 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA096 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a hover which, resulted in a collision with a hangar. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181008), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: airport structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Bell 47G-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md?model=1181008), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-2, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181008), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter pilot reported that, while hovering in front of a hangar he erroneously increased collective pitch, panicked, and lost control of the helicopter. The helicopter subsequently impacted the top of a hanger and rolled over. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor and tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1023V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1023V), registered now, S/N 2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47 (G2) - Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2021 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 12359 - Engines: Lycoming VO435A1F 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Larry Turner - Registered owner: Larry Turner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 2021, 5.2 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FLX, Fallon Municipal - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 16, 2022; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 11,000 total, 50 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point -13 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: KNFL - METAR: SA 11/03/2022 21:56-> METAR KNFL 112156Z VRB04KT 10SM SCT220 12/M25 A3036 RMK AO2 SLP239 T01221250= ## 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 20220211001799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220211001799A), Feb 11, 2022: Bell 47G-2, Fallon, NV, Destroyed. -While landing from a hover, the helicopter drifted towards the hangar as it was still light on the skids. -The pilot panicked and applied aft left cyclic.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104639. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 785 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13671180&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Point%20One_Redactedflat-Rel.pdf - Wreckage photo (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13969040&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.pdf 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.