| Crash location | 30.819445°N, 90.112500°W |
| Nearest city | Franklinton, LA
30.847128°N, 90.153141°W 3.1 miles away |
| Tail number | N90485 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 04 Jun 2003 |
| Aircraft type | Bell 47G-2 |
| Additional details: | None |
On June 4, 2003, at 1726 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-2 helicopter, N90485, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during takeoff from a transport trailer at the Franklinton Airport (2R7), near Franklinton, Louisiana. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Pegasus Helicopter Services, Inc., of Covington, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The 794-hour pilot, who had accumulated 590 hours in the accident aircraft, stated that he released the tie-down straps, and then towed the trailer and aircraft out of a hangar. The pilot believed that he removed all of the tie-down straps. He then started the engine, pulled up on the collective, and hovered about one foot above the trailer platform. The pilot then moved the cyclic forward and the aircraft responded forward, then rolled right and impacted the ground. The pilot stated he did not note any mechanical irregularities during takeoff.
Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, and operator revealed structural damage to the right side of the helicopter. The rotor blades were destroyed and the right skid was detached from the aircraft and resting on the trailer. The inspector did not note any mechanical irregularities.
Further examination revealed the tie-down strap was not tangled with the skid during lift off. This was evident since there was nothing small enough on the skid or the trailer for the strap hook to latch onto, other than the strap itself or the hook latch, which is under the trailer. No clinch marks on the strap where the hook may have latched were found that would have indicated if the strap hook wrapped around the skid and latched onto itself.
According to the FAA inspector, the tie-down strap on the right skid was not properly removed prior to takeoff. As the pilot attempted to takeoff, the tie-down strap did not give way and the helicopter rolled over to the right, impacting the ground.
The pilot's encounter with dynamic rollover due to his failure to properly remove the tie-down strap on the right skid prior to takeoff. Factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and failure to abort takeoff.