Bell 47G 3B 1 N1181W

Summary

On 13 February 2016 at about 23:00 local time, a Bell 47G 3B 1 registered N1181W was involved in an accident near Carson City, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 February 2016 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Carson City, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Carson (CXP)

Coordinates

39.1953, -119.7403

Aircraft

Bell 47G 3B 1

Registration

N1181W

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Carson City → Carson City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR16LA069

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient main rotor rpm, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control and a dynamic rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings to a taxiway. The pilot reported that, during his fourth landing attempt and as he was transitioning to a hover, he noticed that the helicopter's main rotor rpm was slightly low, and he attempted to increase the rpm by adding power. However, the helicopter did not respond and settled onto the taxiway. The pilot then raised the collective to bring the helicopter back to a hover, but the rotor rpm was still low. The pilot continued to try and add power, but the helicopter drifted right, and the right skid then contacted the ground off the side of the taxiway, which resulted in a dynamic rollover and substantial damage to the airframe and rotor blades. The pilot stated that he was new to this type of helicopter, and it is likely that he allowed the main rotor rpm to decay to a point from which he was unable to recover. He stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.