Bell 47G-4A N9472G
11 August 1996 · Adel, Georgia, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 11 August 1996 at about 15:15 local time, a Bell 47G-4A registered N9472G was involved in an accident near Adel, Georgia, United States. 2 people were 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.
The record
- Date
- at 15:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Adel, Georgia, United States
- Coordinates
- 31.1291, -83.4207
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-4A
- Registration
- N9472G
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA96LA210
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the pilot's misjudgment of clearance between the helicopter and the antenna. A factor relating to the accident was the pilot's use of a drug (medication) that had sedative effects.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was hovering the helicopter above a radio tower as a worker was attaching a 50 foot line from the helicopter to an antenna on the tower. As the helicopter maneuvered above the tower, it settled, and the main rotor blades collided with the antenna and mounting pole. The main rotor separated from the helicopter, and the helicopter descended uncontrolled until ground impact. The worker's left ankle was broken when the helicopter hit the antenna. The winds were reported to be steady at about 15 mph with no gusts. Toxicology tests of specimens from the pilot showed 0.214 mcg/ml diphenhydramine in blood, 0.597 mcg/ml diphenhydramine in liver fluid, and diphenhydramine was detected in his urine. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine with sedative effects. FAA records showed the helicopter operator held a Title 14 CFR Part 137 Aerial Application Certificate, but there was no record that the operator held a 14 CFR Part 133 External Load Certificate. Also, the logbook showed no record of an FAA Form 337, Major Repair and Alteration, for installation of the external load hook, which reportedly had been installed by the pilot about a week before the accident.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Oct 1996 | Bell 47G-3B-1 | Fillmore, Utah, United States | Usfs | Fatal | 1 |
| 7 Oct 1996 | Bell 47G-5A | King City, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 1996 | Bell 47G-3B-1 | Rangely, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Sep 1996 | Bell 47G-3B-1 | Borinquen | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Dec 1996 | Bell 47G | Pendleton, Oregon, United States | Wildhorse Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 6 Oct 1996 | Bell 47G-5 | Nunda, South Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 1,633 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Apr 1996 | Maule M-5 | Plains, Georgia, United States | Robert D. Campbell | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Apr 1996 | Cessna 310D | Palmetto, Georgia, United States | Bruce D. Willis | No injuries | - |
| 18 Apr 1996 | Grumman G-164A | Edison, Georgia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 May 1996 | Cessna 172D | Vilarica, Georgia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 May 1996 | Piper PA-28-140 | Barbour Island, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jan 1996 | Cessna 150G | Social Circle, Georgia, United States | Dixie Jet Service | Fatal | 1 |