Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Natchez, Mississippi 39120
Tuesady, January 17, 1995 16:20 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FAILED TO SEPARATE THE PORTABLE TRANSPORT (DOLLY) BEFORE TAKEOFF. DURING LIFTOFF, HE RECOGNIZED THAT THE DOLLY WAS SECURED AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. A POST CRASH FIRE ENSUED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE HELICOPTER BY THE PILOT FOR HIS FAILURE TO SEPARATE THE DOLLY BEFORE ATTEMPTING FLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/17/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1620
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City NATCHEZ
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39120
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1614 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID HEZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 272
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 17 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1905
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8462E
NTSB Number MIA95LA058
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47G-3B
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G-3B
Aircraft Serial Number 2634
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 16 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 6877
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHERRYBARK LAND & TIMBER CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 816 MAIN ST.
Aircraft Owner City NATCHEZ
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39120
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TILLMAN, CLIFFORD R.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1620
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State MS
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --