Bell 47G (TOM CAT) N10175

Summary

On 10 August 1987 at about 15:50 local time, a Bell 47G (TOM CAT) registered N10175, operated by Allison, Rodney V., was involved in an accident near Dothan, Alabama, 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

10 August 1987 at 15:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Dothan, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

31.2302, -85.4004

Aircraft

Bell 47G (TOM CAT)

Registration

N10175

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Allison, Rodney V.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL87LA229

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 RPRTD THAT WHILE HE WAS MAKING A TURN-AROUND OVER TREES AFTER THE 1ST SWATH RUN, THE HELICOPTER ENCTRD A SUDDEN WIND CHANGE. HE STATED THAT THE WIND COND WAS FROM A CUMULUS BUILDUP WHICH PUT HIM IN A TAILWIND SITUATION. AS HE COMPLETED HIS TURN WITH NEAR ZERO AIRSPEED, THE HELICOPTER BGN TO SETTLE WITH POWER. THE PLT TRIED TO FLY OUT OF THE SITUATION, BUT THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A TREE LIMB & SEPARATED, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO SPIN. THE PLT ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE IN AN ATMT TO MAKE AN AUTOROTATION & THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.