Bell 47G5 N14861

Summary

On 11 August 1988 at about 14:30 local time, a Bell 47G5 registered N14861, operated by Maine Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Biddeford, Maine, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

11 August 1988 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Biddeford, Maine, United States

Nearest airport

Biddeford (B19)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47G5

Registration

N14861

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Maine Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Portland → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC88LA214

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 HELICOPTER MADE AN APPROACH TO A LOW HOVER ABOVE A HARD SURFACED RWY. THE HELICOPTER WAS SLOWLY AIR TAXIING WHEN THE PLT FELT THE HELICOPTER BECOME UNSTABLE DIRECTIONALLY AND HE CONSIDERED MAKING A RUN-ON LANDING. HOWEVER, BEFORE HE COULD MAKE THE LANDING THE PILOT SAID 'THE NOSE STARTED GOING TO THE RIGHT VERY QUICKLY AND I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE CAREFULLY FORWARD WHICH DIDN'T WORK'. THE AIRCRAFT RAPIDLY WENT THROUGH ABOUT 360 DEG OF TURN BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE TEMP AT THE TIME OF THE ACFT WAS 90 DEG F RESULTING IN A DENSITY ALT OF 2200 FT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.