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October 5, 2015 · Bell 47G 3B · N160CS

Huntsville, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 5, 2015
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Huntsville, TX
Aircraft
Bell 47G 3B (1962)
Tail Number
N160CS
Operator
Custom Air
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN16LA003

The commercial pilot was conducting an agricultural application flight in the helicopter. He reported that the helicopter felt "awkward" during the spray pass shortly before the event but that he thought that it was due to an uncoordinated turn. During the next spray pass, the helicopter developed a right rolling tendency, which the pilot was initially able to counter with left cyclic control. He then entered a right turn with the intention of returning to the fuel truck. Once the right turn was initiated, he applied full left and aft cyclic control input but the helicopter did not respond. The helicopter began to lose altitude, impacted the ground, and then came to rest in an open field covered with low vegetation. The pilot reported that he did not feel any abnormal vibrations or hear any "pops" before the loss of control authority. He added that the flight went from routine to out of control in a matter of "seconds." A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions; however, the extent of damage to the flight control system precluded a complete examination.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's loss of helicopter control during an agricultural application pass for reasons that could not be determined due to the extent of damage to the flight control system.

Full Narrative

On October 5, 2015, about 0805 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-3B helicopter, N160CS, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during an aerial application pass near Huntsville, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered and operated by Custom Air LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural application flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a temporary landing site near the application field shortly before the accident.The pilot reported that the helicopter felt "awkward" shortly before the event, but thought it was due to an uncoordinated turn. During the next spray pass, the helicopter developed a right rolling tendency, which the pilot was initially able to counter with left cyclic control. He entered a "gentle" right turn with the intention of returning to the fuel truck for a precautionary landing. However, full left cyclic control input was ultimately ineffective in countering the right rolling tendency. The right turn continued for about 150 degrees of heading change. The helicopter began to lose altitude during the turn and subsequently impacted the ground in a slight right bank, traveling about 40 yards before coming to rest. The pilot stated that he did not feel any abnormal vibrations or hear any "pops" before the loss of control authority. He commented that the flight went from routine to out of control in a matter of "seconds." The helicopter came to rest in an open field covered with low vegetation. A postaccident examination was conducted by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors. The windshield/canopy had separated from the fuselage, with plexiglass fragments observed at the accident site. The forward fuselage structure exhibited minor deformations and distortions; however, the integrity of the fuselage was intact. The main rotor blades remained attached to the hub; however, the rotor blades were deformed over the span of the blades. The rotor hub remained attached to the mast and transmission. The transmission and supporting structure were dislocated from the aft fuselage/forward tailboom truss structure. The fuel tanks were separated and located with the main wreckage. The tailboom was deformed. The tail rotor transmission had separated from tail boom and was located at the accident site. The tail rotor blades remained attached to the hub. The blades exhibited tip damage but appeared otherwise intact. The flight control system components were deformed and fragmented consistent with the overall impact damage. The postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction; however, the examination was hindered by the extent of the damage.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:05 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 47G 3B
Tail NumberN160CS
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorCustom Air
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsRolls Royce · T63-A-700 · Turboshaft · 250
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 25 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 55
Altimeter30.06 inHg
Observation Time12:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data