Aviation Crash Map

Bell 47G-4A N6SR

1 February 1995 · El Indio, Texas, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 1 February 1995 at about 21:00 local time, a Bell 47G-4A registered N6SR was involved in an accident near El Indio, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 21:00
Classification
Accident
Location
El Indio, Texas, United States
Coordinates
28.5092, -100.3101
Aircraft
Bell 47G-4A
Registration
N6SR
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Other Work Use
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
FTW95LA105

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 0 0 1 2

Probable cause

THE LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER, BEING USED FOR PREDATOR CONTROL, WAS 25 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND WAS CHASING A BOBCAT. THE PILOT SAID A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND GUST CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO LOSE TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS AND IT BEGAN SPINNING TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT INCREASED COLLECTIVE AND THROTTLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN AIRSPEED, BUT THIS CAUSED THE MAIN ROTOR RPM TO DROOP AND ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO ALLOW THE HELICOPTER TO REGAIN AIRSPEED BY LOWERING THE NOSE. THE PILOT THEN REDUCED COLLECTIVE TO REGAIN RPM, BUT THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO SPIN AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 47 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
2 Nov 1995 Bell 47G-4A
N99138
Pacific Ocean
no coordinates
Z Fishing Company No injuries -
21 Sep 1995 Bell 47G
N616X
Union City, Tennessee, United States Gordon Wade No injuries -
10 Sep 1995 Bell 47G-3B2
N7942J
Yuma, Arizona, United States - No injuries -
26 Sep 1995 Bell 47G-3B1
N92HA
Union Church, Mississippi, United States Ward Aviation, Inc. Minor injuries -
12 Aug 1995 Bell 47
N4032G
Arlington Hts, Illinois, United States
no coordinates
- Minor injuries -
4 May 1995 Bell 47G-5A
N444GW
Middleboro, Massachusetts, United States
no coordinates
Wiggins Airways, Inc. Minor injuries -

All 1,633 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
27 Jan 1995 Cessna 150L
N1493Q
Needville, Texas, United States - Fatal 2
27 Dec 1995 Piper PA-24-250
N5221P
Kaufman, Texas, United States - Serious injuries -
25 Jun 1995 Beechcraft 77
N3737B
McAllen, Texas, United States - No injuries -
28 Dec 1995 Republic RC 3
N6127K
Whitewright, Texas, United States William Grantham No injuries -
10 Feb 1995 Piper PA-32R-300
N5373F
Conroe, Texas, United States - Fatal 5
22 Dec 1995 Piper PA-22-160
N9591D
Waller, Texas, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States