Bell 47G3 SOLOY N121CD

Summary

On 31 May 1994 at about 11:35 local time, a Bell 47G3 SOLOY registered N121CD was involved in an accident near Friendsville, Maryland, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 May 1994 at 11:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Friendsville, Maryland, United States

Coordinates

39.6608, -79.3993

Aircraft

Bell 47G3 SOLOY

Registration

N121CD

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC94LA097

1 person was seriously injured.

THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE TURBINE ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, DURING AN AGRICULTURE MANEUVER AT LOW ALTITUDE, OVER TERRAIN UNSUITABLE FOR AN AUTOROTATION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, IN THE TURBINE ENGINE CONVERTED BELL 47. THE HELICOPTER WAS OVER HILLY TERRAIN WITH TREE LINES. THE PILOT WAS FLYING AN UPHILL RUN AT 30 TO 40 FEET ABOVE TREE LEVEL, AT 60 TO 65 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN THERE WAS A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY TO AN OPEN AREA WITH PARTIAL POWER. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A TREE AS IT APPROACHED THE EDGE OF A CLEARING. AFTER THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON THE GROUND, THE PILOT SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN WITH THE TWIST GRIP THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION, THE FREE WHEELING UNIT AND THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX WERE EXAMINED, AND NO DEFECTS WERE NOTED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED ACCIDENT RELATED IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE COMBUSTION LINER. THE LINER WAS REPLACED AND THE ENGINE PERFORMED NORMALLY DURING A TEST RUN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.