Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Akeley, Minnesota 56433
Wednesday, July 25, 2012 12:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The agricultural helicopter pilot reported he was on a “clean up” pass and descending toward the field over a set of power lines when he experienced a slight yaw to the right and felt a slight vibration that seemed to be coming from the rear of the helicopter. When he began to apply left pedal input, the helicopter immediately entered an excessively nose low attitude with increased right yaw. After the pilot applied aft cyclic control, the helicopter impacted terrain and came to rest on its left side. An examination of the helicopter and its systems revealed no preimpact anomalies or malfunctions, and there was no evidence that the helicopter had impacted the power lines. The source of the vibration could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during low altitude agricultural operations.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/2012
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Akeley
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56433
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 465414N
Event Location Longitude 0944325W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID KPKW
Elevation of weather observation facility 1445
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.67
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KPKD 251832Z AUTO 36004KT 10SM FEW024 SCT032 26/19
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 31151
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regl Opns Center - Great L
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 20 2013 2:07PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N73252
NTSB Number CEN12LA480
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Scotts-Bell 47 Inc
Aircraft Model 47G-2A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2720
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 21 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 13323
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SCOTTS HELICOPTER SERVICE INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 92
Aircraft Owner City LE SUEUR
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 56058-0092
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SCOTTS HELICOPTER SERVICE INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 92
Operator City LE SUEUR
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 56058-0092
Operator Code CUHG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number CUHG150S
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City Akeley
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Akeley
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 10 2013 6:12PM
User who most recently changed record latt
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --