Summary
On July 04, 2006, a Bell 47G-2 (N6738D) was involved in an incident near Petersburg, WV. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The passenger's inadvertent interference with the flight controls, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent impact with the ground.
As the Bell 47G-2 climbed to about 15-20 feet during a hover, the pilot felt that "something was pushing the helicopter." Shortly thereafter, the helicopter began to descend and the rotor RPM began to decrease. The pilot initiated a precautionary landing, during which the passenger inadvertently pushed on the rudder pedals. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the helicopter rolled onto its side as it touched down.
This incident is documented in NTSB report NYC06CA173. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N6738D.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The passenger's inadvertent interference with the flight controls, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent impact with the ground.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
As the Bell 47G-2 climbed to about 15-20 feet during a hover, the pilot felt that "something was pushing the helicopter." Shortly thereafter, the helicopter began to descend and the rotor RPM began to decrease. The pilot initiated a precautionary landing, during which the passenger inadvertently pushed on the rudder pedals. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the helicopter rolled onto its side as it touched down.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC06CA173