Bell 47G4 accident near Grand Lake, Louisiana, June 23, 2002
On June 23, 2002 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G4 (helicopter), registered N62446, was destroyed in an accident near Grand Lake, Louisiana. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inability to control the helicopter in a hover due to the restricted movement of the cyclic for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2002 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Lake, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G4 · all 47G4s on the register
- Registration
- N62446 · no longer on the register · serial 7655
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had just finished spray operations prior to taking two passengers to look over a marsh area he had just sprayed for them. As the helicopter was equipped with dual controls, the pilot cautioned the passengers not to touch anything. When the pilot brought the helicopter to a hover, approximately 6 to 12 inches off the ground, the helicopter tilted forward. The pilot added aft cyclic, but the helicopter continued to tilt forward. He attempted to add more aft cyclic, but felt the cyclic bind up and could not move it aft any further. The pilot lowered the collective in an attempt to land, but the helicopter tilted to the right. The right skid dug into the ground, and the helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover, coming to rest on its right side where it caught fire and was destroyed.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 21,133 hours in all; 1,204 in this make and model; 375 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 20,850 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 23, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Hackberry LA at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from LCH, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.