Scotts-Bell 47 47G-2A N73252

Summary

On 25 July 2012 at about 17:45 local time, a Scotts-Bell 47 47G-2A registered N73252, operated by Scotts Helicopter Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Akeley, Minnesota, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 July 2012 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Akeley, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

46.9039, -94.7236

Aircraft

Scotts-Bell 47 47G-2A

Registration

N73252

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Scotts Helicopter Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Akeley → Akeley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA480

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during low altitude agricultural operations.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The agricultural helicopter pilot reported he was on a “clean up” pass and descending toward the field over a set of power lines when he experienced a slight yaw to the right and felt a slight vibration that seemed to be coming from the rear of the helicopter. When he began to apply left pedal input, the helicopter immediately entered an excessively nose low attitude with increased right yaw. After the pilot applied aft cyclic control, the helicopter impacted terrain and came to rest on its left side. An examination of the helicopter and its systems revealed no preimpact anomalies or malfunctions, and there was no evidence that the helicopter had impacted the power lines. The source of the vibration could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.