N993B

Substantial
Minor

Bell 47G-2S/N: 1448

Accident Details

Date
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
NTSB Number
DFW06CA123
Location
Rosenberg, TX
Event ID
20060619X00767
Coordinates
29.573055, -95.801666
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilots encounter with loss of tail rotor effectiveness during an aerial application flight. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
BELL
Serial Number
1448
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
47G-2B47G
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1
Seats
3
FAA Model
47G-2

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
AIRTIME MARKETING LLC
Address
651 N BROAD ST STE 201
City
MIDDLETOWN
State / Zip Code
DE 19709-6402
Country
United States

Analysis

The 5,740-hour commercial pilot lost control of the single-engine helicopter while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. The pilot stated, that he made a right turn into the wind and that a gust of wind "must have hit the tail causing him to lose tail-rotor authority." The pilot further stated that he corrected with full left pedal; however, the helicopter touched down and the left skid dug into the soft ground causing the aircraft to roll onto the left side. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported from 240 degrees at 4 knots, gusting to 12 knots. The pilot reported having accumulated 70 hours in the same make and model. He added that there were no anomalies with the helicopter prior to the accident.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DFW06CA123