Bell 47G-2A N652HA

Summary

On 27 July 2012 at about 11:35 local time, a Bell 47G-2A registered N652HA, operated by Helicopter Applicators Inc, was involved in an accident near Austin, Indiana, 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.

Date

27 July 2012 at 11:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Austin, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

None

Coordinates

38.7364, -85.6400

Aircraft

Bell 47G-2A

Registration

N652HA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Helicopter Applicators Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Austin → Austin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12CA484

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot did not maintain clearance from terrain during a low-level aerial application flight and lost control of the helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was on his third aerial application pass when he momentarily glanced over at his global positioning system and the left spray boom struck the ground. The pilot said the spray boom wiggled back and forth before it folded back into the tailboom. The helicopter then began to spin to the right, and the pilot initiated an autorotation. The helicopter landed hard but remained upright. Examination of the helicopter revealed the spray boom, tail rotor, and tail rotor gear box had completely separated from the airframe. The fuselage and main rotor blades were also damaged. The operator reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.