N90529

Substantial
Serious

BELL-TELLIJOHN 47GS/N: NT1958-1

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, June 15, 2017
NTSB Number
CEN17LA232
Location
Hastings, MN
Event ID
20170615X22227
Coordinates
44.707500, -92.851387
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
BELL-TELLIJOHN
Serial Number
NT1958-1
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1974
Model / ICAO
47GB47G
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1
Seats
3
FAA Model
47G-2

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
NORTHLAND HELICOPTERS INC
Address
780 S ELMWOOD
City
LE SUEUR
State / Zip Code
MN 56058
Country
United States

Analysis

On June 15, 2017, about 1000 central daylight time, a Bell 47G helicopter, N90529, experienced a loss of engine power near Hastings, Minnesota. The commercial pilot was seriously injured and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to Northland Helicopters, Inc. and operated by Scott's Helicopters, La Sueur, Minnesota under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and which operated without a flight plan.According to information obtained by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, after completing an aerial application, the helicopter was in cruise flight for the destination. Initially, the accident was reported as a loss of engine power; however, later the pilot reported shutting down the engine after impacting in a field. The pilot stated that the helicopter impacted the ground in a nose low attitude with a right roll tendency. The wreckage was examined on scene by the FAA inspectors and they did not find any anomalies with the helicopter. Fractured control rods were retained and examined, and no preimpact anomalies were detected.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN17LA232