BELL 47G-2A
Austin, IN — July 27, 2012
Event Information
| Date | July 27, 2012 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN12CA484 |
| Event ID | 20120727X04940 |
| Location | Austin, IN |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 38.73639, -85.64000 |
| Airport | None |
| Highest Injury | SERS |
Aircraft
| Make | BELL |
| Model | 47G-2A |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 137 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 1 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot did not maintain clearance from terrain during a low-level aerial application flight and lost control of the helicopter.
Full Narrative
The pilot was on his third aerial application pass when he momentarily glanced over at his global positioning system (GPS) and the left spray boom struck the ground. The pilot said the spray boom wiggled back and forth before it folded back into the tail boom. The helicopter then began to spin to the right and he initiated an autorotation. The helicopter landed hard but remained upright. Examination of the helicopter revealed the spray boom, tail rotor and tail rotor gear box had completely separated from the airframe. The fuselage and main rotor blades were also damaged. The operator reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies prior to the accident.
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.