Bell 47G-2A N7578

Summary

On 27 July 2011 at about 22:45 local time, a Bell 47G-2A registered N7578, operated by Scotts Helicopters Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Nicolett, Minnesota, 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

27 July 2011 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Nicolett, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

44.2753, -94.1875

Aircraft

Bell 47G-2A

Registration

N7578

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Scotts Helicopters Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nicolett → Nicolett

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11CA525

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, during an aerial application flight, he initiated a climbing turn, which he thought did not "feel right." He leveled the helicopter, stopped the turn, lowered the collective and added full throttle. The pilot stated that the rpm indication was in the bottom of the green arc. The helicopter began losing altitude and impacted a cornfield. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. The helicopter sustained substantial damage when the main rotor separated a section of its tailboom.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.