On July 3, 1983, a Bell 47G2 (registration N5185B) was involved in an aviation accident near Thomasville, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The helicopter tail rotor striking the ground during landing due to a gust of wind. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Aircraft registered N5185B. Photo: Sandtouch Limited Company, a Texas limited liability company / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A helicopter engaged in aerial application sustained damage when its tail rotor struck the ground upon touchdown at Decatur, with the pilot attributing the incident to a wind gust.
What happened
The helicopter was conducting aerial application operations and was returning to the site to reload supplies. During the landing phase, the aircraft's tail rotor made contact with the ground. The pilot reported that a gust of wind occurred at the moment of touchdown, which caused the tail rotor to strike the surface.
Findings
Weather data from Decatur indicated winds were from 190 degrees at 12 knots at 0750 CDT. No gusts were officially reported in the weather record, despite the pilot's account.
Probable cause
The helicopter tail rotor striking the ground during landing due to a gust of wind.
