Bell 47G-2 N2487B

Summary

On 17 June 1989 at about 14:00 local time, a Bell 47G-2 registered N2487B, operated by David Board, was involved in an accident near Moundsville, West Virginia, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 June 1989 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Moundsville, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Marshall County (74D)

Coordinates

39.9198, -80.7404

Aircraft

Bell 47G-2

Registration

N2487B

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

David Board

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO89LA045

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTIAN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND OBSTACLE CLEARANCE WHILE HOVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE. A TAIL ROTOR BLADE STRUCK AN OBSTACLE CAUSING AN OVERLOAD SEPARATION FAILURE OF THE BLADE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT WAS HOVERING THE ACFT ABOUT 3 FT AGL OVER A FIELD IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRY OFF THE FIELD WITH THE ROTOR WASH. THE FIELD WAS TO BE USED FOR AN OUTDOOR CONCERT. THE PLT WAS MANEUVERING THE ACFT BETWEEN BARRELS WHEN HE INADVERTENTLY BACKED INTO ONE. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE BARREL AND A BLADE WAS SEVERED. THE ACFT SPUN AROUND, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AND ROLLED OVER. THE PLT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE HELICOPTER. THE PLT RECEIVED A ROTORCRAFT RATING EIGHT DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT STATED HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.