Bell 47G-4A N7162M
23 August 1998 · Carrollton, Alabama, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 23 August 1998 at about 21:00 local time, a Bell 47G-4A registered N7162M, operated by Nelson E. Tucker, was involved in an accident near Carrollton, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 21:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Carrollton, Alabama, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.2595, -88.0893
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-4A
- Registration
- N7162M
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Nelson E. Tucker
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA98FA229
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilots failure to follow written instructions in the flight manual for an engine failure, and the improper use of flight controls (cyclic/collective) during an autorotation resulting in a hard landing, and collision of the main rotor blades with the tailboom assembly. Contributing to the accident was the improper installation of circlips on the counterweight assembly during an engine overhaul. This resulted in a subsequent total failure of the number 5 connecting rod.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at about 75 feet over trees after completing a swath run when the engine quit. He started a right turn before he entered autorotation, and did not monitor the engine or rotor rpm. He started a deceleration at about 30 feet and pulled all collective pitch. The helicopter collided with the ground hard, and the main rotor blades collided with the tailboom assembly. Examination of the engine assembly revealed 10 of 22 circlips were installed incorrectly during engine overhaul resulting in the subsequent failure of the number 5 connecting rod.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 May 1998 | Bell 47G | Bunnell, Florida, United States | Wing and Rotor International | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 1998 | Bell 47-D1 | Monticello, Mississippi, United States | Paul M. Trost | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jun 1998 | Bell 47G | Le Center, Minnesota, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 1998 | Bell 47G | Monette, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Apr 1998 | Bell 47G-3B-1 | Sedro Wooley, Washington, United States | Helfenberger, Daniel, E. | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jul 1998 | Bell 47G-2 | Plainview, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 1,633 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct 1998 | Cessna 188B | Tellasse, Alabama, United States | William Harry MC Gowan | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 Nov 1998 | Cessna 150F | New Brockton, Alabama, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1998 | Cessna 172F | Tuskegee, Alabama, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 May 1998 | Beechcraft BE-45-T-34B | Montgomery, Alabama, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Oct 1998 | Ayres S2R | Frisco City, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jan 1998 | Christopher Coats CHALLENGER II | Evergreen, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |