Bell 47G-4A N99138

Summary

On 2 November 1995 at about 10:00 local time, a Bell 47G-4A registered N99138, operated by Z Fishing Company, was involved in an accident near Pacific Ocean. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 November 1995 at 10:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Pacific Ocean

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47G-4A

Registration

N99138

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Z Fishing Company

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA149

Nobody was injured.

failure of the pilot to maintain lateral control of the helicopter, while hovering in preparation for a precautionary landing next to a ship at sea. Factors relating to the accident were: the passenger's premature evacuation from the helicopter, and the resultant lateral imbalance of the helicopter as the passenger jumped.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was being flown from a fishing vessel during a fish spotting operation. The pilot reported that shortly after liftoff from the ship, he experienced a hydraulic failure. The seas were reported as high, and the pilot did not feel he could safely return to the pitching and rolling ship deck without hydraulic assist. He decided to land the float equipped helicopter in the water next to the ship. While hovering just above the water, the spotter unexpectedly jumped out of the helicopter without permission from the pilot. This resulted in a sudden imbalance, and the pilot lost control of the helicopter. The helicopter then rolled over, collided with the water, and sank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.