Bell 47G 3B N47AH

Summary

On 24 July 2017 at about 21:00 local time, a Bell 47G 3B registered N47AH, operated by Scotts Helicopter Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Toterville, 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

24 July 2017 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Toterville, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

43.4389, -92.7822

Aircraft

Bell 47G 3B

Registration

N47AH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1961

Engines

1

Operator

Scotts Helicopter Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Toterville → Toterville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA436

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain rotor rpm while maneuvering at low altitude with low airspeed and a tailwind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the helicopter pilot, during an agricultural flight, he made a downwind turn to spray the intended field. During the low airspeed right turn, he increased the engine power, and the rotor rpm decreased. He reported that he leveled the helicopter to clear power lines, but the rotor rpm remained low. The helicopter descended, and the pilot landed the helicopter in a corn field. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and horizontal stabilizer. The nearest METAR located 15 nautical miles south-southeast from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was calm. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.