On November 2, 1995, a Bell 47G-4A (registration N99138) operated by Z Fishing Company was involved in an aviation accident near Pacific Ocean, PO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: failure of the pilot to maintain lateral control of the helicopter, while hovering in preparation for a precautionary landing next to a ship at sea. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter performing fish spotting from a fishing vessel experienced a hydraulic failure after liftoff, leading to a controlled water landing near the ship. The helicopter rolled over and sank when a spotter jumped out without permission, causing imbalance and loss of control.
Incident
A helicopter operating from a fishing vessel during a fish spotting mission suffered a hydraulic failure shortly after lifting off from the ship. The pilot reported the failure and noted that the sea conditions were high, making it unsafe to attempt a return to the pitching and rolling deck without hydraulic assistance. Consequently, the pilot decided to land the float-equipped helicopter on the water adjacent to the vessel.
While the helicopter was hovering just above the water surface, the spotter on board unexpectedly jumped out without the pilot's authorization. This sudden action caused an imbalance in the aircraft, leading to a loss of control. The helicopter subsequently rolled over, struck the water, and sank.