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NTSB Report

August 6, 1983 · Bell 47D1 · N68632

Moultrie, GA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 6, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Moultrie, GA
Aircraft
Bell 47D1
Tail Number
N68632
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL83LA315

After completing a swath run, the pilot pulled up, made a turn, then started a let down for another pass. As he increased power, the engine RPM went from 3000 to 3100. At the same time, the pilot heard a whining noise and noted that the rotor RPM was decreasing. The pilot was unable to stop the descent before the helicopter struck the ground. After impacting the ground, the helicopter bounced, then rolled over. An exam of the centrifugal clutch assembly, PN 47-620-609-1, revealed it had an estimated 60% contact between the shoe linings and the drum face. A minimum of 85% contact was required. The clutch did not conform to the toe-in requirements and none of the heels of the clutch shoes were making contact with the drum. The helicopter had flown 220 hours since the last annual inspection when the clutch shoes were deglazed and the clutch drum was checked, and it had flown approximately 13 hours since the last 100 hour inspection.

Full Narrative

AFTER COMPLETING A SWATH RUN, THE PLT PULLED UP, MADE A TURN, THEN STARTED A LET DOWN FOR ANOTHER PASS. AS HE INCREASED POWER, THE ENG RPM WENT FROM 3000 TO 3100. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PLT HEARD A WHINING NOISE AND NOTED THAT THE ROTOR RPM WAS DECREASING. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT BEFORE THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND. AFTER IMPACTING THE GROUND, THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED, THEN ROLLED OVER. AN EXAM OF THE CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, PN 47-620-609-1, REVEALED IT HAD AN ESTIMATED 60% CONTACT BETWEEN THE SHOE LININGS AND THE DRUM FACE. A MINIMUM OF 85% CONTACT WAS REQUIRED. THE CLUTCH DID NOT CONFORM TO THE TOE-IN REQUIREMENTS AND NONE OF THE HEELS OF THE CLUTCH SHOES WERE MAKING CONTACT WITH THE DRUM, THE HELICOPTER HAD FLOWN 220 HRS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WHEN THE CLUTCH SHOES WERE DEGLAZED 8 THE CLUTCH DRUM WAS CHECKED, AND IT HAD FLOWN APPRX 13 HRS SINCE THE LAST 100 HR INSPECTION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 EDT
Nearest Airport2nm NE
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireUnknown
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 47D1
Tail NumberN68632
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · VO-435-A1F · Reciprocating · 265
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 37 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time21:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data