CATAWISSA, PA, USA
N5NH
BELL 47G-3B-1
THE HELICOPTER HAD FUNCTIONING DUAL CONTROLS INSTALLED. THE PILOT BOARDED THREE PASSENGERS, 2 LARGE ADULTS AND ONE CHILD (TOTALING 520 LBS) FOR A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. THE THREE PASSENGERS WERE SEATED IN A DOUBLE SEAT AND HELD BY ONE SEAT BELT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN UNCONTROLLED RIGHT TURN AND THE RIGHT SKID STRUCK THE GROUND FLIPPING THE HELICOPTER OVER. HE SAID THE CYCLIC WAS JAMMED AGAINST ONE OF THE PASSENGERS LEG. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE DISCLOSED THE TAKEOFF CENTER OF GRAVITY WAS 1.3 INCHES FORWARD OF THE FORWARD LIMIT.
PILOT FACTOR IN THAT THE PILOT USED POOR JUDGEMENT AND LOADED MORE PASSENGERS THAN WERE SEATS ON THE HELICOPTER THIS RESULTED IN CONTROL INTERFERENCE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CHECK THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE FOR THE FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FLIGHT OUTSIDE THE FORWARD LIMITS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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