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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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August 26, 1994 · Bell 47 MARK-6 · N19JM

Lake City, MN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 26, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Lake City, MN
Aircraft
Bell 47 MARK-6
Tail Number
N19JM
Operator
Northland Helicopter
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI94LA300

WHILE PERFORMING A LOW LEVEL AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION TURN, THE PILOT REPORTED COMPLETING HIS TURN AND HAVING A LOWER THAN NORMAL ROTOR RPM. THE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THE HUMIDITY WAS REPORTED BY THE PILOT AS HIGH. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2000 FEET. ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN RPM AND LEVEL OFF WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL, AND THE HELICOPTER SPRAY BOOMS CONTACTED THE CORN CROP. THE HELICOPTER STOPPED AND OVERTURNED.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE LOSS OF LIFT RESULTING FROM THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION TURN. THE POWER AVAILABLE FROM THE ENGINE WAS LESS THAN THAT REQUIRED TO REGAIN THE LOST ROTOR RPM.

Full Narrative

On August 26, 1994, at 1745 hours central daylight time, a Bell BH-47 Mark-6 helicopter, N19JM, operated by Northland Helicopter, Inc., of Stacyville, Iowa, impacted in a crop field 4 miles south of Lake City, Minnesota, and was substantially damaged. The commercially certificated pilot was uninjured and no fire occurred. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 137 as an agricultural application aircraft, and the flight had originated from a tending vehicle near the accident site at 1530 hours CDT. The pilot reported that after making an application turn, rotor RPM decayed and he was unable to maintain level flight or regain the rotor rpm. The temperature was 74 degrees Farenheit, the humidity was described by the pilot as high, the elevation was 1300 feet above mean sea level, and the density altitude was at least 2000 feet. Post crash inspection of the helicopter and powerplant failed to reveal any discrepancies.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:45 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 47 MARK-6
Tail NumberN19JM
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorNorthland Helicopter
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · V0-435-A1F · Reciprocating · 260
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 46 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 6 kt
Visibility12 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2900 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:51
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data