Accident Bell 47G-4A N1400W, Sunday 25 September 1983

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Date:	Sunday 25 September 1983
Time:	16:00 LT
Type:	Bell 47G-4A
Owner/operator:	Cherokee Aviation, Inc
Registration:	N1400W
MSN:	7657
Year of manufacture:	1969
Total airframe hrs:	11000 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming VO-540-B1B3
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Wise, VA - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:	(KLNP)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PLT HELD A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE, BUT WAS A STUDENT IN HELICOPTER FLYING. HE HAD OVER 15,000 HRS TOTAL TIME IN AIRPLANES, BUT ONLY APRX 13 HRS OF EXPERIENCE IN HELICOPTERS. ON HIS 1ST SOLO FLT IN A HELICOPTER, HE WAS MAKING APPROACHES TO A GRASSY AREA BESIDE A RWY. ON 1 APCH, HE TRANSITIONED FROM A 60 KT APPROACH TO A HOVER. THE APPROACH WAS MADE ON A HEADING OF 240 DEG IN VARIABLE WIND CONDITIONS THAT PREVAILED FROM 205 DEG AT 5 KTS. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT FLARED & STOPPED HIS FORWARD MOVEMENT AT ABOUT 4 FT AGL; HOWEVER, THE NOSE CONTINUED UP & STARTED YAWING TO THE RIGHT, THEN THE HELICOPTER TURNED APRX 270 DEG TO THE RIGHT & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PLT RECALLED SEEING AN INDICATION OF 2800 ENG RPM BEFORE HE LOST CONTROL. A CERTIFIED FLT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT 2800 RPM WAS MARGINAL FOR MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: