Bell 47D1 N68632

Summary

On 6 August 1983 at about 20:30 local time, a Bell 47D1 registered N68632 was involved in an accident near Moultrie, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

6 August 1983 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Moultrie, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

31.1596, -83.7703

Aircraft

Bell 47D1

Registration

N68632

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moultrie → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL83LA315

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

AFTER COMPLETING A SWATH RUN, THE PLT PULLED UP, MADE A TURN, THEN STARTED A LET DOWN FOR ANOTHER PASS. AS HE INCREASED POWER, THE ENG RPM WENT FROM 3000 TO 3100. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PLT HEARD A WHINING NOISE AND NOTED THAT THE ROTOR RPM WAS DECREASING. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT BEFORE THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND. AFTER IMPACTING THE GROUND, THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED, THEN ROLLED OVER. AN EXAM OF THE CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, PN 47-620-609-1, REVEALED IT HAD AN ESTIMATED 60% CONTACT BETWEEN THE SHOE LININGS AND THE DRUM FACE. A MINIMUM OF 85% CONTACT WAS REQUIRED. THE CLUTCH DID NOT CONFORM TO THE TOE-IN REQUIREMENTS AND NONE OF THE HEELS OF THE CLUTCH SHOES WERE MAKING CONTACT WITH THE DRUM, THE HELICOPTER HAD FLOWN 220 HRS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WHEN THE CLUTCH SHOES WERE DEGLAZED 8 THE CLUTCH DRUM WAS CHECKED, AND IT HAD FLOWN APPRX 13 HRS SINCE THE LAST 100 HR INSPECTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.