Bell 47G-5 N1201W
13 October 1991 · La Belle, Florida, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 13 October 1991 at about 12:25 local time, a Bell 47G-5 registered N1201W, operated by Colony Services, Inc., was involved in an accident near La Belle, Florida, 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 12:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- La Belle, Florida, United States
- Coordinates
- 26.6392, -81.3409
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-5
- Registration
- N1201W
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Colony Services, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA92LA014
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER AFT APPLICATION OF CYCLIC CONTROL DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, RESULTING IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDING WITH THE TAIL BOOM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IN FLIGHT FAILURE OF THE OUTER BEARING OF THE LOWER GEARCASE INPUT QUILL ASSEMBLY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 200 FEET AGL WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND A ROARING NOISE. THE PILOT CONDUCTED AN AUTOROTATION TO AN OPEN FIELD. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE, NOSED OVER AND SLID FORWARD. THE PILOT STATED, 'I PULLED A LITTLE TOO MUCH AFT CYCLIC AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDED WITH THE TAIL BOOM. INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRFRAME SYSTEM FAILURE REVEALED THE OUTER BEARING OF THE LOWER GEARCASE INPUT QUILL ASSEMBLY FAILED FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Oct 1991 | Bell 47D-1 | Rome, Georgia, United States | Silver Hawk Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 26 Sep 1991 | Bell 47G-5A | Pearsall, Texas, United States | Tiller Helicopter Service, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 May 1991 | Bell 47G-3B-1 | Malott, Washington, United States | Cascade Helicopter | No injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 1991 | Bell 47G | Kettleman City, California, United States | Shafter Aviation, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 1991 | Bell 47G-3B-2 | Chula Vista, California, United States | K & L Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 May 1991 | Bell 47-G3B1 | Hughesville, Pennsylvania, United States | Agricultural Helicopter Serv. | Serious injuries | - |
All 1,633 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan 1991 | Hughes 269C | Deland, Florida, United States | Maverick Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jan 1991 | Cessna 182N | La Belle, Florida, United States | Smith, Gregory H. | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Jan 1991 | Cessna 175 | Okeechobee, Florida, United States | Davia, Samuel J. JR. | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 1991 | Cessna 172N | New Smyrna Bch, Florida, United States | Embry-Riddle Aero. Univ., Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jan 1991 | Cessna 152 | Miami, Florida, United States | Silver Express, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 1991 | Piper PA-31-350 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Top Flight Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |