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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 27, 1982 · Bell/Soloy 47G-3B · N8469E

Magee, MS

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 27, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Magee, MS
Aircraft
Bell/Soloy 47G-3B
Tail Number
N8469E
Operator
Chemaire of Mississippi
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL82FKQ12

The Bell 47G-3B with a Soloy conversion was being used to demonstrate an aerial application spraying technique for use along powerline right-of-ways. For about 15 to 20 minutes after takeoff, routine spray runs were made over several different powerlines while using water as a spray. Just prior to the accident, a spray run was made from west to east with a pull-up and turn-around over powerlines along the east side of the area. The pilot stated that following the turn-around, both the cyclic and collective failed to respond and the helicopter began to vibrate. He stated the engine was performing satisfactorily and the rotor RPM was normal. Witnesses stated the helicopter remained in a nose down attitude until impact. After the occupants were removed, the helicopter began burning. An examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact malfunction or failure. Due to the extent of the fire damage, no useful information was found regarding the flight control, hydraulic, or other systems in the body frame area.

Full Narrative

THE BELL 47G-3B WITH A SOLOY CONVERSION WAS BEING USED TO DEMONSTRATE AN AERIAL APPLICATION SPRAYING TECHNIQUE FOR USE ALONG POWERLINE RIGHT-OF-WAYS. FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, ROUTINE SPRAY RUNS WERE MADE OVER SEVERAL DIFFERENT POWERLINES WHILE USING WATER AS A SPRAY. JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, A SPRAY RUN WAS MADE FROM WEST TO EAST WITH A PULL-UP AND TURN-AROUND OVER POWERLINES ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF THE AREA. THE PILOT STATED THAT FOLLOWING THE TURN-AROUND, BOTH THE CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO VIBRATE. HE STATED THE ENGINE WAS PERFORMING SATISFACTORILY AND THE ROTOR RPM WAS NORMAL. WITNESSES STATED THE HELICOPTER REMAINED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL IMPACT. AFTER THE OCCUPANTS WERE REMOVED, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN BURNING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE FIRE DAMAGE, NO USEFUL INFORMATION WAS FOUND REGARDING THE FLIGHT CONTROL, HYDRAULIC, OR OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE BODY FRAME AREA.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:50 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftBell/Soloy 47G-3B
Tail NumberN8469E
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorChemaire of Mississippi
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsAllison · 20B · Reciprocating
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 40 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point15 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data