Bell 47G N4427F
3 September 2010 · Salinas, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 3 September 2010 at about 13:00 local time, a Bell 47G registered N4427F, operated by Frank Gomes, was involved in an accident near Salinas, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously 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 13:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Salinas, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Salinas Municipal Airport (SNS)
- Coordinates
- 36.6622, -121.6239
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G
- Registration
- N4427F
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Frank Gomes
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Salinas → Salinas
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR10LA446
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and loss of helicopter control.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
After taking off on a visual flight rules flight in instrument meterological conditions, with a reported 2 1/2 miles visibility with mist and overcast clouds at 100 feet, the pilot proceeded westbound about 50 feet above ground level (agl) then, while approaching an interstate highway, climbed to 100 feet agl in order to avoid power lines. During the climb, the helicopter entered the fog. The pilot stated that after entering the fog he turned on the landing light, which blinded him and caused him to become disoriented as he attempted to make a 180-degree turn back to the airport. The pilot added that he subsequently lost control of the helicopter and impacted a highway guardrail with the tail section of the helicopter. The helicopter then came to rest inverted and partially in the southbound lane of the highway. The pilot reported no helicopter mechanical failures or malfunctions. A truck driver who witnessed the accident reported that the forward visibility was about 250 feet at the time of the accident.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 2010 | Bell 47G | Plymouth, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 2010 | Bell 47G-4A | Rochester, Minnesota, United States | Scotts Helicopter Services Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 Jan 2010 | Bell 47G-4A | Shafter, California, United States | Inland Crop Dusters Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 Sep 2010 | Bell 47G | Gaston, Oregon, United States | Farm and Forest Helicopter Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 2010 | Bell 47G-4A | Shaw Island, Washington, United States | Brantigan John W | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 2011 | Bell 47G | Porterville, California, United States | Agra Fly | No injuries | - |
All 1,633 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 2010 | Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B | Courtland, California, United States | Walter Avery | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 2010 | Cessna 172P | Camarillo Airport, California, United States | Channel Islands Aviation Inc | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 2010 | Piper PA-30 | Merced, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Oct 2010 | Robinson R22 BETA | Long Beach, California, United States | Temco Sky Networks | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Jun 2010 | Rans COYOTE II S6 | Lincoln, California, United States | Michael S. Gorden | Fatal | 2 |
| 12 Oct 2010 | Boeing A75N1(PT17) | Palm Springs, California, United States | Kent Thomas | No injuries | - |