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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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July 31, 1984 · Bell-Olympic Helicopters 47G2 · N85341

Toledo, OH

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 31, 1984
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Toledo, OH
Aircraft
Bell-Olympic Helicopters 47G2
Tail Number
N85341
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI84FEI01

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED TO PHOTOGRAPH AN OFFICE BUILDING. THE PHOTOGRAPHER STATED THAT AFTER EACH FLT OF ABOUT 10 MIN, THE PLT FLEW THE HELICOPTER TO THE LEFT & CENTER OF THE LANDING PAD, A FEW FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THEN MOVED THE ACFT SIDEWAYS TO THE CENTER OF THE PAD & SETTLED TO A LANDING. AT THE END OF THE 3RD FLT, HE USED THE SAME PROCEDURE. HOWEVER, AS THE HELICOPTER WAS MOVING SIDEWAYS, THE LEFT SKID STRUCK THE GROUND 3 TIMES A FEW FEET APART, THEN THE RIGHT SKID HIT THE GROUND & COLLAPSED. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE & WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE BURNING CRAFT, BUT THE PLT DIED APRX 2 WKS LATER FROM BURNS. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. OTHER PLTS WHO FLEW THIS HELICOPTER STATED THAT IF THE CYCLIC CONTROL WAS BUMPED WITH THE ACFT CLOSE TO THE GROUND, THE PLT MAY BE UNABLE TO ADJUST QUICKLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT GROUND CONTACT.

Full Narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED TO PHOTOGRAPH AN OFFICE BUILDING. THE PHOTOGRAPHER STATED THAT AFTER EACH FLT OF ABOUT 10 MIN, THE PLT FLEW THE HELICOPTER TO THE LEFT & CENTER OF THE LANDING PAD, A FEW FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THEN MOVED THE ACFT SIDEWAYS TO THE CENTER OF THE PAD & SETTLED TO A LANDING. AT THE END OF THE 3RD FLT, HE USED THE SAME PROCEDURE. HOWEVER, AS THE HELICOPTER WAS MOVING SIDEWAYS, THE LEFT SKID STRUCK THE GROUND 3 TIMES A FEW FEET APART, THEN THE RIGHT SKID HIT THE GROUND & COLLAPSED. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE & WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE BURNING CRAFT, BUT THE PLT DIED APRX 2 WKS LATER FROM BURNS. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. OTHER PLTS WHO FLEW THIS HELICOPTER STATED THAT IF THE CYCLIC CONTROL WAS BUMPED WITH THE ACFT CLOSE TO THE GROUND, THE PLT MAY BE UNABLE TO ADJUST QUICKLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT GROUND CONTACT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:48 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell-Olympic Helicopters 47G2
Tail NumberN85341
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · VO-435-A1D · Reciprocating · 260
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 61 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 7 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data