Bell 47G-2A-1 N147AH

Summary

On 28 June 2021 at about 17:20 local time, a Bell 47G-2A-1 registered N147AH was involved in an accident near Brasstown, North Carolina, 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

28 June 2021 at 17:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Brasstown, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Brasstown Field (PVT)

Coordinates

35.0513, -83.9497

Aircraft

Bell 47G-2A-1

Registration

N147AH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA272

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s inflight loss of control while conducting a hovering maneuver.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-helicopter rated pilot reported that he had departed from a stationary trailer and hover taxied in ground effect. Upon reaching a taxiway that was parallel to the runway, he lost control of the helicopter and it impacted the ground multiple times before coming to rest on its side. A post-crash fire ensued and the helicopter was destroyed. The pilot stated that he believed he lost control of the helicopter and it had been “running fine” before the accident. Witnesses stated they observed the helicopter lift off from the transport trailer and that once the helicopter cleared the trailer, “it got real wobbly.” The main rotor blades struck the ground two or three times and while continuing forward, the right landing gear skid tube “hit the ground pretty hard”. They said, “the helicopter then bounced back into the air, spun to the right (clockwise) and landed on its left side.”

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.