ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 224097
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Wednesday 17 April 2019 |
| Time: | 11:08 |
| Type: |  Bell 47G-3B-1 |
| Owner/operator: | Hendrickson Flying Service |
| Registration: | N96671 |
| MSN: | 3539 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1967 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming VO-435-A1F |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Donna, Hidalgo County, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Weslaco, TX (KTXW) |
| Weslaco, TX (KTXW) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter pilot reported that, during an agricultural application flight and while heading east about 3 ft above ground level, the "wind suddenly shifted, a gust of wind [came] from the west," and the helicopter "settled." The pilot increased power and raised the collective, but the helicopter impacted terrain.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot further reported that the helicopter was equipped with a muffler, which he believed adversely affected the engine's performance. However, correspondence with the helicopter’s certificate holder stated that there would “be no reduction of horsepower with the muffler installed if done as per the instructions per the STC [supplemental type certificate]."
An automated weather observation station located 5 nautical miles east of the accident site reported that, about 8 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 180° at 16 knots, gusting to 25 knots and that, about 32 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 180° at 16 knots, gusting to 26 knots.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain altitude during an agricultural application flight.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
Location
Images:
Photo: FAA
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 18-Apr-2019 09:10 | gerard57 | Added |
| 18-Apr-2019 10:29 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Location, Phase, Nature, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 18-Apr-2019 12:07 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Source, Embed code] |
| 18-Apr-2019 13:53 | Geno | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Phase, Source, Narrative] |
| 18-Apr-2019 15:29 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Registration, Cn, Source] |
| 13-Nov-2019 08:20 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
| 13-Nov-2019 09:00 | harro | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Photo] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation