Bell 47G-2 N4242A

Summary

On 11 September 1982 at about 21:20 local time, a Bell 47G-2 registered N4242A, operated by Kappmeir Alan L., was involved in an accident near San Diego, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

11 September 1982 at 21:20

Classification

Accident

Location

San Diego, California, United States

Nearest airport

Montgomery Field (MYF)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47G-2

Registration

N4242A

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Kappmeir Alan L.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Diego → San Diego

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX82FA341

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT WAS IN THE LOCAL PATTERN PRACTICING MANEUVERS. AFTER COMPLETING A QUICK STOP MANEUVER & HOVERING, ANOTHER TAKEOFF WAS INITIATED. THE PLT STATED THAT IT SEEMED TO TAKE AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF FORWARD CYCLIC TO INITIATE FORWARD FLT. DURING THE FINAL APPROACH FULL FORWARD CYCLIC WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN FORWARD FLT. THE ACFT STOPPED SHORT OF THE LANDING SPOT & STARTED BACKING UP. THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND AS THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER. THE BROKEN SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FORE & AFT CYCLIC CONTROL, P/N 47-724-132-1, WAS EXAMINED & FOUND TO BE A VERY POOR QUALITY CASTING. COLD SHUTS & SHRINKAGE CAVITIES WERE OBSERVED ON OVER APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE FORE & AFT CYCLIC CONTROL FAILED BY A SLOW FRACTURE PROCESS INITIATED BY THE PRESENCE OF LARGE CASTING DEFECTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.