Bell 47G-3B-1 N90463

Summary

On 22 August 1989 at about 12:10 local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 registered N90463, operated by Farmers Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Rayville, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 August 1989 at 12:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Rayville, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Ag Strip

Coordinates

32.4708, -91.7506

Aircraft

Bell 47G-3B-1

Registration

N90463

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Farmers Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW89DRD13

Nobody was injured.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ROTOR RPM. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE COTTON CROP.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT RPRTD THAT AFTER LOADING FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLT, HE 'BROUGHT THE HELICOPTER TO A HOVER TO CHECK EVERYTHING,' THEN CONTD THE TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF, HE 'DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT POWER' & 'TRIED TO REGAIN R.P.M. BUT WAS UNABLE.' THE HELICOPTER THEN MOVED FORWARD INTO A 4' HIGH COTTON CROP & TOUCHED DOWN. THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING TOUCHDOWN, HE APPLIED AFT CYCLIC TO KEEP THE HELICOPTER FROM ROCKING FORWARD. ACCORDING TO HIM THE TAIL ROTOR HIT THE GROUND, CAUSING IT TO FAIL & DAMAGE THE MAIN ROTOR. AN FAA INVESTIGATOR RPRTD THAT THE TAIL BOOM WAS CUT OFF & THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE DESTROYED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.