Bell 47G-5 N7043J
1 March 1994 · Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 1 March 1994 at about 20:35 local time, a Bell 47G-5 registered N7043J was involved in an accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously 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 20:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
- Nearest airport
- Plymouth (PYM)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-5
- Registration
- N7043J
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC94LA050
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance of the fuel truck from the aircraft, which resulted in the main rotor striking the fuel hose and truck during refueling operation. A factor was the pilot's failure to follow company policy pertaining to the refueling of aircraft.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RECEIVING INSTRUCTION IN THE BELL 47 HELICOPTER FROM A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI). AFTER A 1.5 HOUR DUAL INSTRUCTION FLIGHT, THE STUDENT AND THE CFI RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT TO REFUEL, AND WERE PLANNING TO DEPART AGAIN FOR ANOTHER TRAINING FLIGHT. AFTER LANDING, THE HELICOPTER WAS LEFT IDLING WITH THE RSP AT THE CONTROLS WHILE THE CFI EXITED THE HELICOPTER TO RETRIEVE THE FUEL TRUCK. THE CFI RETURNED WITH THE FUEL TRUCK, RE-FUELED THE HELICOPTER AND WAS RETURNING THE FUEL HOSE TO THE TRUCK WHEN THE TURNING ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE HOSE AND FUEL TRUCK. THE HOSE IN TURN STRUCK THE CFI. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED ABOUT 3.5 FEET FROM THE TURNING ROTOR BLADES, AND COMPANY POLICY MANDATED A MINIMUM OF A 10 FOOT CLEARANCE. RE-ENACTMENT OF THE HOSE STOWAGE TO THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TRUCK SHOWED A TENDENCY FOR THE HOSE TO DEFLECT UP INTO THE ROTOR TIP PATH PLANE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1994 | Bell 47G-5 | Pacific Ocean | Victor M. Reyes | Fatal | 2 |
| 22 Mar 1994 | Bell 47G-5A | Wisconsin Rpds, Wisconsin, United States | Ruterbories, Caryl J. | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Aug 1994 | Bell 47 MARK-6 | Lake City, Minnesota, United States | Northland Helicopter Inc | No injuries | - |
| 18 May 1994 | Bell 47G | Sulphur, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 1994 | Bell 47G-2 | Willcox, Arizona, United States | Arizona Apple Company, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1994 | Bell 47G-3B-1 | Yuma, Arizona, United States | Sundown Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
All 1,633 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul 1994 | Cessna 172N | Chatham, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 1994 | Cessna 172P | Sterling, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 1994 | Mooney M20J | Edgartown, Massachusetts, United States | Peter N Spanos | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Nov 1994 | Cessna 402C | Hyannis, Massachusetts, United States | Island Airlines, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Nov 1994 | Mooney M20J | Brewster, Massachusetts, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 Jun 1994 | Beechcraft 24R | Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |