Summary
On April 27, 1994, a Bell 47G (N46DH) was involved in an incident near Springfield, MO. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot-in-command misjudging the autorotation and improper use of collective.
On April 27, 1994, at 1015 central daylight time, a Bell 47G helicopter, N46DH, operated as a training aircraft by C. R. Hill of Springfield, Missouri, impacted the ground during a practice autorotation at Air Park South, Springfield, Missouri, and was substantially damaged. The Designated Pilot Examiner/flight instructor and flight instructor student were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a flight instructor training flight.
The practice autorotation was initiated during a practice low level agricultural application turn.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CHI94LA142. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N46DH.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot-in-command misjudging the autorotation and improper use of collective.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On April 27, 1994, at 1015 central daylight time, a Bell 47G helicopter, N46DH, operated as a training aircraft by C. R. Hill of Springfield, Missouri, impacted the ground during a practice autorotation at Air Park South, Springfield, Missouri, and was substantially damaged. The Designated Pilot Examiner/flight instructor and flight instructor student were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a flight instructor training flight.
The practice autorotation was initiated during a practice low level agricultural application turn. According to the pilot, collective input to cushion the landing was made too early, main rotor rpm decayed and the helicopter landed with a high descent rate. Upon touchdown, the helicopter bounced and pitched nose down. The pilot in command reported that the combined aft cyclic input by both pilots and blade flexing resulted in rotor blade to fuselage contact, severing the tail boom.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI94LA142