Bell 47G-5 N8140J

Summary

On 10 July 2007 at about 15:30 local time, a Bell 47G-5 registered N8140J was involved in an accident near Jesup, Iowa, 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

10 July 2007 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Jesup, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

42.8000, -92.0667

Aircraft

Bell 47G-5

Registration

N8140J

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jesup → Hudson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI07CA212

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inability to maintain control of the helicopter when it unexpectedly encountered a whirlwind shortly after takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter impacted the ground following a loss of control when it encountered a whirlwind on takeoff. The pilot reported that he stopped spraying because the winds had increased. He stated that he landed and spoke with his ground crew then decided to fly the helicopter back to his home airport. He reported that the local winds were from the west-southwest at 12 mph gusting to 20 mph. He stated that he took off over a cornfield and had just passed through translational lift when he noticed a whirlwind in front of him and slightly to his left. He stated that the next thing he knew he was in the whirlwind. He stated that he felt the helicopter shake then it rolled to the right. The helicopter came to rest upside down in the cornfield.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.