Bell 47D1 N908B

Summary

On 8 July 1987 at about 17:30 local time, a Bell 47D1 registered N908B, operated by John L. Lanier, was involved in an accident near Huntsville, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

8 July 1987 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Huntsville, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

34.7003, -86.7393

Aircraft

Bell 47D1

Registration

N908B

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

John L. Lanier

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL87LA204

Nobody was injured.

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 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT WAS DISPENSING INSECTICIDES ON A COTTON FIELD. WHILE MANEUVERING TO AVOID POWERLINES DURING THE PROCEDURE TURNAROUND FOLLOWING AN UPWIND SWATH RUN, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SETTLE. THE PILOT FAILED TO APPLY ADDITIONAL POWER IN TIME TO PREVENT THE HELICOPTER FROM SETTLING INTO THE TERRAIN WHERE IT NOSED OVER WHEN THE ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.