Bell 47G-3B-1 N31FG

Summary

On 9 October 1992 at about 21:15 local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 registered N31FG, operated by Speth, Stephen F., was involved in an accident near Centre, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 October 1992 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Centre, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

34.1506, -85.6702

Aircraft

Bell 47G-3B-1

Registration

N31FG

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Speth, Stephen F.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Centre → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL93LA009

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AG PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE PERFORMING A MANEUVER (TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION), HE ALLOWED THE MAIN ROTOR RPM TO DECAY. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, AND IT BOUNCED INTO A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN, AND THE RPM DECAYED ONCE MORE. THE HELICOPTER THEN CRASHED INTO THE FIELD, AND THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES DURING IMPACT. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WITH THE HELICOPTER DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.