Bell 47G 2 N4690

Summary

On 10 August 2014 at about 15:15 local time, a Bell 47G 2 registered N4690, operated by Penn TEX Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Jeanerette, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 August 2014 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Jeanerette, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

29.9122, -91.6689

Aircraft

Bell 47G 2

Registration

N4690

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Penn TEX Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jeanerette → Jeanerette

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14LA415

1 person died.

The pilot’s improper decision to operate an unairworthy helicopter, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain.  

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot/owner was conducting an agricultural application flight in the helicopter. A witness reported observing the helicopter flying about 200 ft above ground level and then descending to just above the sugarcane tops. The helicopter then pitched down and impacted terrain, and it was destroyed. About 3 days before the accident, the helicopter received a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ramp check, during which numerous discrepancies with the helicopter were found including, in part, a cracked tailboom tube structure, rusted bolts with improper grip lengths, a disabled transmission chip light, a worn transmission gear with a backed-off locknut, and a lack of proper lubrication. The FAA inspector noted that the helicopter was in a poor condition and considered to be unairworthy. The pilot/owner, who was also a licensed mechanic, performed his own maintenance. It is unlikely that the pilot corrected the maintenance issues in the intervening 3 days; therefore, the airplane was likely unairworthy at the time of the accident. The accident is consistent with the loss of helicopter control for reasons that could not be determined because the helicopter was destroyed at impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.