Marshall County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Moundsville, West Virginia 26041
Saturday, June 17, 1989 10:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT WAS HOVERING THE ACFT ABOUT 3 FT AGL OVER A FIELD IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRY OFF THE FIELD WITH THE ROTOR WASH. THE FIELD WAS TO BE USED FOR AN OUTDOOR CONCERT. THE PLT WAS MANEUVERING THE ACFT BETWEEN BARRELS WHEN HE INADVERTENTLY BACKED INTO ONE. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE BARREL AND A BLADE WAS SEVERED. THE ACFT SPUN AROUND, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AND ROLLED OVER. THE PLT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE HELICOPTER. THE PLT RECEIVED A ROTORCRAFT RATING EIGHT DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT STATED HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTIAN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND OBSTACLE CLEARANCE WHILE HOVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE. A TAIL ROTOR BLADE STRUCK AN OBSTACLE CAUSING AN OVERLOAD SEPARATION FAILURE OF THE BLADE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/17/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MOUNDSVILLE
Event State WEST VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 26041
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MARSHALL COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 74D
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1215
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1024 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID PKB
Elevation of weather observation facility 858
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 910
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 17 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1145
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39025
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2487B
NTSB Number BFO89LA045
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47G-2
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G-2
Aircraft Serial Number 1499
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 23 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 57
Airframe Hours 6139
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EQUIP-LEASE CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 6628
Aircraft Owner City WHEELING
Aircraft Owner State WV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAVID BOARD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 322A
Operator City MOUNDSVILLE
Operator State WV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 26041
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 74D
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --