Bell 47G-2 N6738D

Summary

On 4 July 2006 at about 16:15 local time, a Bell 47G-2 registered N6738D was involved in an accident near Petersburg, West Virginia, United States. 3 people were 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

4 July 2006 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Petersburg, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Grant County Airport (W99)

Coordinates

38.9947, -79.1458

Aircraft

Bell 47G-2

Registration

N6738D

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Petersburg → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC06CA173

Nobody was injured.

The passenger's inadvertent interference with the flight controls, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent impact with the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

As the helicopter climbed to about 15-20 feet during a hover, the pilot felt that "something was pushing the helicopter." Shortly thereafter, the helicopter began to descend and the rotor RPM began to decrease. The pilot initiated a precautionary landing, during which the passenger inadvertently pushed on the rudder pedals. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the helicopter rolled onto its side as it touched down.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.