Aviation Crash Map

Bell 47G-2 N90529

26 August 1990 · Wall Lake, Iowa, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 26 August 1990 at about 00:40 local time, a Bell 47G-2 registered N90529 was involved in an accident near Wall Lake, Iowa, 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.

The record

Date
at 00:40
Classification
Accident
Location
Wall Lake, Iowa, United States
Coordinates
42.2600, -95.0901
Aircraft
Bell 47G-2
Registration
N90529
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 137: Agricultural
Purpose of flight
Aerial Application
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CHI90DCD02

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM DURING TAKEOFF. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND UPHILL TERRAIN WERE FACTORS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER REFUELING & RELOADING THE HELICOPTER WITH A SPRAY SOLUTION AT A FIELD SITE, A TAKEOFF WAS INITIATED IN CALM WIND CONDITIONS. THE PLT RPRTD THAT THE LOCATION REQUIRED HIM TO TAKE OFF UPSLOPE. HE STATED THAT THE RPM DROPPED SLIGHTLY, BUT REMAINED IN THE GREEN ARC DURING THE UPSLOPE PORTION OF THE TAKEOFF. AS THE HELICOPTER CROSSED A FENCE & THE TERRAIN STARTED SLOPING DOWNHILL, THE HELICOPTER FLEW OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. THE PLT RPRTD HE LEVELED THE HELICOPTER, THEN BEGAN A SLIGHT DSCNT TO INCREASE RPM & AIRSPEED. HOWEVER, THE ROTOR RPM DECAYED & JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE HELICOPTER YAWED 90 DEG TO THE RIGHT. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. DENSITY ALT WAS ESTD TO BE 3216 FT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 47 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 Nov 1990 Bell 47J-2
N49DA
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States Pigeon Forge Helicopters, Inc. Serious injuries -
4 May 1990 Bell 47G
N9FK
Riverside, California, United States Riverside Air Service Minor injuries -
16 Jun 1990 Bell 47G-3B1
N67223
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
no coordinates
Badger Helicopters, Inc. Fatal 3
2 Apr 1990 Bell 47G-3B-2
N9449J
Hillsboro, Oregon, United States Western Helicopter Service Serious injuries -
15 Nov 1990 Bell 47-G3-B
N2921W
Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States
no coordinates
Firefly, Inc. No injuries -
2 Sep 1990 Bell 47G-3B1
N73957
Canon City, Colorado, United States - Minor injuries -

All 1,633 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
20 Jan 1990 Boeing B737-300
N338UA
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
no coordinates
United Airlines No injuries -
16 Mar 1990 Maule M4
N12010
Creston, Iowa, United States Johnson, Kenneth D. No injuries -
26 Mar 1990 Cessna 150
N2254J
Ankeny, Iowa, United States Todd's Flying Service Inc. No injuries -
21 Apr 1990 Piper PA-22-150
N1680P
Eldora, Iowa, United States Burri, Gregory D. Minor injuries -
29 Nov 1990 Piper PA-31T2
N1879W
Des Moines, Iowa, United States Century Life of America Fatal 1
29 Apr 1990 Cessna 172
N8472X
Ames, Iowa, United States Nieman, Robert K. Serious injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States