Bell 47G-2A-1 N73988

Summary

On 11 June 1993 at about 00:00 local time, a Bell 47G-2A-1 registered N73988, operated by Red DOG Helicopter, Inc., was involved in an accident near Phlox, Wisconsin, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 June 1993 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Phlox, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47G-2A-1

Registration

N73988

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Red DOG Helicopter, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI93LA201

1 person died.

WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE CYCLIC CONTROL.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT DEPARTED FROM THE ROAD ADJACENT TO THE POTATO FIELD HE HAD BEEN SPRAYING AND WAS GOING TO REPOSITION FOR ANOTHER SPRAYING RUN. WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN, IT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE BRUSH AND TREES SOUTH OF THE RIVER. THE PILOT'S SON STATED THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. NO ANOMALIES WERE DISCOVERED DURING ENGINE TEARDOWN. HOWEVER, THE CYCLIC STICK CONTROLS FOR THE RIGHT SEAT, THE SEAT THE PILOT WAS FLYING FROM, WERE DIFFERENT THAN THOSE FOR THE LEFT SEAT. THE RIGHT STICK WAS SIGNIFICANTLY FURTHER BACK AND TO THE LEFT THAN THE LEFT CONTROLS. IN FACT, THE SON SAID TO A WITNESS THAT '...IN ORDER TO FLY THE HELICOPTER LEVEL, HE (THE PILOT) HAD TO HAVE THE CYCLIC ALMOST FULL LEFT.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.