Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE. FACTORS INCLUDE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED WHILE APPROACHING THE FLARE.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On November 15, 1993, at 1100 PST, a Bell BH-47G3B1 helicopter, N1181W, operated by Tri-City Helicopter, Inc., landed hard at Mesa, Washington. There was no flight plan filed for the local aerial application flight, conducted under 14 CFR 137 in visual meteorological conditions, that originated at the accident site about 1030, November 15, 1993. The commercial certificated pilot was not injured in the accident. The aircraft was substantially damaged. There was no fire. The operator reported that the pilot had approached the landing site with excessive airspeed, flared excessively during landing, struck the tail on the ground, and landed hard. This was followed by the main rotor blades flexing down and striking 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# SEA94LA042