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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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September 8, 1987 · Bell 47G-2A · N1200W

Mc Intosh, AL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 8, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Mc Intosh, AL
Aircraft
Bell 47G-2A
Tail Number
N1200W
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL87LA252

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED TO SET FIRES TO BURN OFF UNDERBRUSH IN A COMMERCIAL FOREST PRIOR TO CUTTING OF TREES. THE PLT LANDED THE HELICOPTER ON A MOBILE TRANSPORT TRAILER AT THE COMPLETION OF THE DAY'S WORK. THE HELICOPTER ENGINE HAD BEEN SHUT OFF AND THE ROTOR BLADES WERE COASTING TO A STOP. PREVIOUSLY SET FIRE GENERATED WIND WHICH LIFTED THE TAIL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER FUEL TANK, SPILLING FUEL WHICH IGNITED.

Full Narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED TO SET FIRES TO BURN OFF UNDERBRUSH IN A COMMERCIAL FOREST PRIOR TO CUTTING OF TREES. THE PLT LANDED THE HELICOPTER ON A MOBILE TRANSPORT TRAILER AT THE COMPLETION OF THE DAY'S WORK. THE HELICOPTER ENGINE HAD BEEN SHUT OFF AND THE ROTOR BLADES WERE COASTING TO A STOP. PREVIOUSLY SET FIRE GENERATED WIND WHICH LIFTED THE TAIL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER FUEL TANK, SPILLING FUEL WHICH IGNITED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:10 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 47G-2A
Tail NumberN1200W
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · VO-435 · Reciprocating · 240
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 34 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data