Bell 47G-2A-1 N124CD

Summary

On 24 December 1983 at about 15:38 local time, a Bell 47G-2A-1 registered N124CD was involved in an accident near Hughes, Arkansas, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

24 December 1983 at 15:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Hughes, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

34.9442, -90.4692

Aircraft

Bell 47G-2A-1

Registration

N124CD

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Memphis → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW84FA102

1 person died.

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 & OBSERVER WERE ON A FLT TO RESCUE 2 DUCK HUNTERS, STRANDED IN A BOAT THAT BECAME STUCK IN ICE, 500 TO 600 FT FROM SHORE. AFTER REMOVING THE RGT DOOR, THEY PLANNED TO PICK UP 1 HUNTER AT A TIME ON THE RGT SKID WHILE THE OBSERVER HELD ONTO HIM THRU THE OPEN DOOR. AFTER CIRCLING IN GUSTY WINDS, THE PLT WAS ABLE TO HOVER AT THE BOW OF THE BOAT. AS THE 1ST HUNTER CLIMBED ONTO THE RGT SKID, THE HELICOPTER BANKED TO THE RGT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, ENTERED A SPIN TO THE RGT.HOWEVER, THE PLT REGAINED CONTROL & CONTINUED TO THE LANDING AREA WHILE REMAINING IN A CONSTANT RGT TURN. AS HE ENTERED A 5 FT HOVER TO LAND, THE ACFT PITCHED FORWARD. THE PLT PULLED THE COLLECTIVE TO GAIN ALT, BUT THE ACFT ENTERED A RGT ROLL & TURN, AND SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK SEVERAL TREES & CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CG EXCEEDED THE FORWARD LIMIT BY .33 INCHES & THE RIGHT CG LIMIT BY 5.2 INCHES. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR LATERAL LOADS & NO LATERAL CG LIMITS WERE LISTED IN THE FLT MANUAL. THOSE EQUIPPED FOR LITTERS (LATERAL LOADS) WERE RIGGED WITH ADDITIONAL CYCLIC CTL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.