Bell 47G-4A N2238W

Summary

On 14 April 1990 at about 18:15 local time, a Bell 47G-4A registered N2238W was involved in an accident near Bixby, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 April 1990 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Bixby, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

35.9392, -95.8691

Aircraft

Bell 47G-4A

Registration

N2238W

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bixby → Bixby

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW90DPJ05

1 person had minor injuries.

LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO UNDETERMINED MECHANICAL FAILURE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER THE AG PILOT FINISHED HIS LOAD, HE HEADED BACK TO THE TRUCK FOR HIS FINAL LOAD. AS HE PASSED UNDER A POWERLINE HE HEARD A LOUD BANG OR POP, AND THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE RIGHT. HE SAID HE HEARD THE WHEAT HITTING THE SKID BOOMS, AND THEN THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED HARD ON THE TOES OF THE SKIDS. HIS SEAT BELT FAILED AND HE WAS THROWN THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE HELICOPTER. HE SAID HE RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER WAS DEMOLISHED BY IMPACT AND POST-IMPACT FIRE. THE FAA INVESTIGATORS SAID THAT DUE TO THE DAMAE CAUSED BY THE IMPACT, DAMAGED CAUSED BY THE FIRE, AND DAMAGE CAUSED BY MOVEMENT OF THE WRECKAGE, THEY COULD NOT FIND A COMPONENT FAILURE THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE FIRST SKID MARKS STARTED UNDER THE POWERLINES, BUT THE POWER LINES WERE NOT DAMAGED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.