Bell 47D1 N163B

Summary

On 2 December 1988 at about 15:15 local time, a Bell 47D1 registered N163B was involved in an accident near Russell, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 December 1988 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Russell, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Unknown

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47D1

Registration

N163B

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Westfield → Grt. Barrington

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

Unk

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC89DNE01

1 person died.

A PILOT INDUCED LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION, FOLLOWED BY BLADE FLAPPING AS THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACTED THE TAIL OF THE HELICOPTER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE BELL 47D1 WAS ON A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH A COMMERCIAL RATED (NON-ROTORCRAFT RATED) PILOT WHO WAS WORKING ON HIS ROTORCRAFT RATING. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA WITH DEBRIS SPREAD ALONG THE FLIGHT PATH FOR OVER 1/4 MILE. POST CRASH EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT ONE STABILIZER BAR WAS MISSING FROM THE ROTOR HEAD AND HAD FAILED OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION. THE STABILIZER BAR WAS NOT RECOVERED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF BLADE FLAPPING AND LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITIONS. NO EVIDENCE OF A FAILURE ON THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM, OTHER THAN THE MISSING STABILIZER CONTROL BAR WAS FOUND. NO EVIDENCE OF A ENGINE FAILURE WAS NOTED, ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.