Bell 47G N3109G
15 July 1992 · Southwick, Massachusetts, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 15 July 1992 at about 19:55 local time, a Bell 47G registered N3109G, operated by Robert Hunt, was involved in an accident near Southwick, Massachusetts, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 19:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Southwick, Massachusetts, United States
- Nearest airport
- Scibelli Heliport (6MA3)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G
- Registration
- N3109G
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Robert Hunt
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO92LA102
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE STABILIZER CONTROL SYSTEM BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN DURING A HOVER-TAXI CHECK AS PART OF A POST-MAINTENANCE FLIGHT TEST. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO ROLL RIGHT (UNCOMMANDED), AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL DESPITE USING LEFT CYCLIC INPUT. THE MAIN ROTORS STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN, RIGHT BANK, ATTITUDE. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER INCLUDED A TEST OF THE HYDRAULIC DAMPERS WHICH WERE CONNECTED TO THE STABILIZER BAR ASSEMBLY. THE TEST REVEALED THAT THE DAMPERS WERE NOT ADJUSTED ADEQUATELY, WHICH RESULTED IN LITTLE TO NO RESPONSE TO CYCLIC CONTROL INPUT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr 1992 | Bell 47-D-1 | Fayette, Mississippi, United States | Darre J. Ward | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1992 | Bell 47-D1 | El Monte, California, United States | Ochwatt, Robert & Edward | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 1992 | Bell 47G-2 | Danbury, Texas, United States | Salaika, Timothy A. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jun 1992 | Bell 47-G5A | Pago Pago | Zeta Fishing Company | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Aug 1992 | Bell 47G-2 | Slocomb, Alabama, United States | Diamond, John J. | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Mar 1992 | Bell 47G-2 | Pikeville, Kentucky, United States | Sammy D. Goff | No injuries | - |
All 1,633 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Aug 1992 | Piper PA-34-200T | Bedford, Massachusetts, United States | Edward Walter | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 1992 | Piper PA-32-260 | Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States | Alfred L. Moseley | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 1992 | Aerostar AX-9 | Hopkinton, Massachusetts, United States | Mario Distefano | No injuries | - |
| 13 Aug 1992 | Beechcraft 76 | Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States | John F. Mannix | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Oct 1992 | Beechcraft 55 | Leicester, Massachusetts, United States | Robert L. Powell | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Oct 1992 | Piper PA-38-112 | Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States | Beverly Flight Center, Inc. | No injuries | - |