Pilot Debrief

BELL 47G-2 near Turlock, CA — 2009-07-08

Final reportWPR09CA333
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Date
2009-07-08
Location
Turlock, CA, USA
Aircraft
BELL 47G-2
Registration
N6768D
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM while maneuvering at a low altitude.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while in a turn to reverse direction after completing a downwind spray run, "I noticed my RPMs getting low. As I was coming back down into the field I was rolling on throttle but could not get RPMs where I wanted them. I was hoping for the wind to help me, but there wasn't much wind at the time." The pilot stated that he pushed the cyclic forward to get airspeed, followed by pumping the collective to try to get power back. "I did this all the way until I hit the ground." The pilot reported that the helicopter impacted the ground in a flat, level attitude at about 40 miles per hour before skidding 30 feet and coming to a stop in an upright position.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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