Bell 47G4 N62446

Summary

On 23 June 2002 at about 16:30 local time, a Bell 47G4 registered N62446 was involved in an accident near Grand Lake, Louisiana, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 June 2002 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Lake, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

30.0333, -93.2700

Aircraft

Bell 47G4

Registration

N62446

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hackberry → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02LA186

2 people had minor injuries.

the pilot's inability to control the helicopter in a hover due to the restricted movement of the cyclic for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had just finished spray operations prior to taking two passengers to look over a marsh area he had just sprayed for them. As the helicopter was equipped with dual controls, the pilot cautioned the passengers not to touch anything. When the pilot brought the helicopter to a hover, approximately 6 to 12 inches off the ground, the helicopter tilted forward. The pilot added aft cyclic, but the helicopter continued to tilt forward. He attempted to add more aft cyclic, but felt the cyclic bind up and could not move it aft any further. The pilot lowered the collective in an attempt to land, but the helicopter tilted to the right. The right skid dug into the ground, and the helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover, coming to rest on its right side where it caught fire and was destroyed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.