Bell 47G-2A N7796C

Summary

On 30 July 2003 at about 10:10 local time, a Bell 47G-2A registered N7796C, operated by East Coast Helicopter Inc, was involved in an accident near Jackson, New Jersey, United States. One person was 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

30 July 2003 at 10:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Jackson, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

40.1461, -74.4344

Aircraft

Bell 47G-2A

Registration

N7796C

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

East Coast Helicopter Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jackson → Jackson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

NYC03CA170

Nobody was injured.

Pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and failure to remove a pesticide spraying hose from the helicopter prior to takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot performed two aerial application flights over the amusement park, and landed to reload chemicals for the third flight of the morning. He stated he was "in a hurry," and did not confirm that the right side chemical loading hose was disconnected from the helicopter, prior to takeoff for the third flight. As the pilot initiated takeoff, the loading hose "pulled" the helicopter downward, and it impacted the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.