Bell 47G N6359E

Summary

On 28 October 1989 at about 17:00 local time, a Bell 47G registered N6359E was involved in an accident near West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 October 1989 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

West Palm Beach, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Palm Beach County Park (LNA)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47G

Registration

N6359E

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA90LA018

3 people had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE AND GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER MAKING AN APCH FOR LNDG INTO THE WIND, HE FLEW THE HELICOPTER TO A 6 FT HOVER. HE INITIATED A LEFT PEDAL TURN TO A HEADING OF APRX 220 DEG. ON THIS HEADING, THE WIND WAS FROM THE RIGHT REAR. THE PLT RPRTD THERE WAS AN ABRUPT PITCH-DOWN OF THE HELICOPTER'S NOSE. HE APPLIED FULL AFT CYCLIC & COLLECTIVE PITCH, FOLLOWED BY RIGHT PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE HELICOPTER INTO THE WIND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER HIT THE GROUND WITH THE RIGHT SKID IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE & WAS DAMAGED. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS FROM 330 DEG AT 14 GUSTING 25 KTS. ABOUT 8 MI AWAY AT PALM BEACH INTL ARPT, THE WIND WAS FROM 360 DEG AT 17 KTS. THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN LOADED TO ITS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE MOMENT ARM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.