Bell 47D-1 N925V

Summary

On 28 October 1991 at about 19:50 local time, a Bell 47D-1 registered N925V, operated by Silver Hawk Aviation, was involved in an accident near Rome, Georgia, United States. 2 people were 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

28 October 1991 at 19:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Rome, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

34.2591, -85.1808

Aircraft

Bell 47D-1

Registration

N925V

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Silver Hawk Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL92LA017

Nobody was injured.

THE FAILURE OF A TAIL ROTOR BLADE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED TWO TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND DURING THE THIRD TAKEOFF FOR ANOTHER APPROACH THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FELT A THUMP IN THE AIRFRAME. IMMEDIATELY, HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND LANDED IN A WOODED AREA. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER DISCLOSED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX AND TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLIES WERE MISSING. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR BOTH ASSEMBLIES WERE RECOVERED THE FOLLOWING DAY, HOWEVER THE NTSB WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECOVERY. THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS WERE EXAMINED BY THE OPERATOR AND DESTROYED. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, ONE ROTOR BLADE FAILED IN THE VICINITY WHERE AD 59-05-10 APPLIED; THE AD REQUIRED A DAILY INSPECTION OF THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES FOR CRACKS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AN INSPECTION OF THE BLADES HAD BEEN COMPLETED PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.