Bell 47G N940B
27 November 1999 · Coudersport, Pennsylvania, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 27 November 1999 at about 21:15 local time, a Bell 47G registered N940B was involved in an accident near Coudersport, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was 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 21:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Coudersport, Pennsylvania, United States
- Coordinates
- 41.7707, -78.0093
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G
- Registration
- N940B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Glen Rock
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC00LA044
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilot's improper preflight planning and decision to attempt a takeoff with the passenger from the confined area.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot with a passenger, landed the helicopter in a clearing that was about 40 feet wide, by 150 feet long, and surrounded by 'very tall trees.' The pilot said he made a normal run-up and lifted the helicopter to a hover. He used full throttle and maintained 3,100 RPM. When the helicopter started to accelerate forward, at about 12-15 knots, the RPM dropped to 3,000 and the pilot lowered collective to keep the RPM from dropping further. The helicopter's main rotor blades contacted a pine tree about 30 feet above the ground. The helicopter then rolled to the left and impacted the ground. The elevation at the accident site was about 1,800 feet Ms. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter's airframe or engine. After the accident, the pilot stated that the helicopter was with-in it's maximum gross weight; however, the helicopter did not have enough power available to climb and he should have never landed in the clearing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 1999 | Bell 47G-3B-1 | Austin, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 1999 | Bell 47G-3B-1 | Sour Lake, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Aug 1999 | Bell 47G-2 | Benton City, Washington, United States | Beightol, Steven, L. | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Apr 1999 | Bell 47G-3B1 | Thomastown, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1999 | Bell 47 | Trenton, Georgia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 1999 | Bell 47G-B3 | Selma, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 1,633 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1999 | Cessna 305A | Hilltown, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 12 Sep 1999 | Beechcraft A23 | Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States | Joseph T. Gembusia | No injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 1999 | Piper PA28R-180 | Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Jan 1999 | Douglas DC-9 | Plainfield, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1999 | Cessna 177RG | Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 1999 | Grove AIR COMMAND | Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |