BELL 47G-2
Turlock, CA — July 8, 2009
Event Information
| Date | July 8, 2009 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR09CA333 |
| Event ID | 20090708X75559 |
| Location | Turlock, CA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 37.47028, -120.90056 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | BELL |
| Model | 47G-2 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 137 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that while in a turn to reverse direction after completing a downwind spray run, "I noticed my RPMs getting low. As I was coming back down into the field I was rolling on throttle but could not get RPMs where I wanted them. I was hoping for the wind to help me, but there wasn't much wind at the time." The pilot stated that he pushed the cyclic forward to get airspeed, followed by pumping the collective to try to get power back. "I did this all the way until I hit the ground." The pilot reported that the helicopter impacted the ground in a flat, level attitude at about 40 miles per hour before skidding 30 feet and coming to a stop in an upright position.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.