ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 158081
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| Date: | Tuesday 6 August 2013 |
| Time: | 10:30 |
| Type: |  Bell 47G-3B-1 |
| Owner/operator: | Speas Aviation Inc |
| Registration: | N83702 |
| MSN: | 66-8093 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1966 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 77 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming TVO-435-B1A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Near Vinton Veterans Memorial Airpark (KVTI), Vinton, IA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Vinton, IA |
| Vinton, IA | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
After reloading the helicopter with agricultural spray product, the pilot flew the helicopter off of the loading truck bed for the aerial application flight. Shortly after takeoff, while operating the helicopter at an altitude of about 10 feet above the ground, the pilot noted a decrease in rotor rpm and made a precautionary landing in tall grass. When he noted no anomalies after the landing, the pilot decided to continue the flight. He took off in the helicopter again and flew for about 100 yards before he again noted a decrease in rotor rpm. The helicopter descended and struck the ground with the tail low, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor and tailboom. An examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The helicopter was operating above tall grass and crops while still in ground effect, which likely reduced the efficiency of the rotor system and decreased the amount of lift produced as compared to operating over bare ground. In addition, the helicopter was loaded to within 16 pounds of its maximum gross weight and was operating at a density altitude of about 2,800 feet, which likely also contributed to the decreased performance of the helicopter.
Probable Cause: The pilot's operation of the helicopter at high gross weight and high density altitude while still in ground effect, which reduced the efficiency of the rotor system and the amount of lift produced, which resulted in a collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to continue the flight after the first indication of reduced performance.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=83702
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 07-Aug-2013 17:02 | Geno | Added |
| 26-Aug-2014 14:05 | A.J.Scholten | Updated [Cn, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 29-Nov-2017 08:59 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Cn, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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