Bell 47G N6327D

Summary

On 7 September 2001 at about 15:30 local time, a Bell 47G registered N6327D, operated by Mt. Hebron Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Berry, Alabama, 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.

Date

7 September 2001 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Berry, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Richard Arthur Field (M95)

Coordinates

33.6596, -87.6003

Aircraft

Bell 47G

Registration

N6327D

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Mt. Hebron Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fayette → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL01LA108

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the main rotor system stabilizer damper control horn assembly, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and subsequent collision with a tree and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While maneuvering, at a low altitude, the pilot heard "a pop or a bang outside the helicopter." As the pilot started a left turn, he noticed a "mushiness" in the cyclic control, followed by a loss of left and right cyclic control. The pilot attempted to reach a clearing, but the helicopter went into an uncommanded left turn. When the pilot attempted to slow the helicopter with the collective, the helicopter tilted back to the right, impacted a small tree, touched down on its right skid first, and flipped up on its nose. Examination of the wreckage revealed "ground metal shavings" near the rotor head stabilator damper horn assembly where the control horn attach to the splined shaft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.