Accident Overview
On May 13, 2016, at approximately 0715 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 helicopter, registration N48316, collided with a service truck during takeoff near Portia, Arkansas. The helicopter was substantially damaged, and one person on the ground was fatally injured. The pilot was not injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Hammock Flying Services INC under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was operating without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, the helicopter had landed on an elevated wood platform located on top of the service truck. After being loaded with fuel and a herbicide mixture, the helicopter began to lift off. During lift-off, the helicopter's skid caught a piece of the elevated platform. The pilot attempted to free the helicopter by adding power and pitching forward. The pilot was unable to free the helicopter and lost control as it continued to pitch forward. The main rotor blades contacted the service truck, and the helicopter subsequently impacted the terrain. Debris from the helicopter struck and fatally injured a person on the ground.
Examination Findings
An examination of the helicopter revealed substantial damage to the main rotors, tail boom, and fuselage. Inspection of the landing platform showed that a large deck screw had backed out of the platform. Damage to the platform was consistent with the helicopter's right skid catching the raised screw during lift-off. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident and did not recall inspecting the landing platform that morning.
Operator Improvements
The operator reported that they were in the process of upgrading the service trucks. The improvements included using self-locking hardware for the screws on the platforms to prevent the regular deck screw from backing out. Additionally, other trucks in the fleet were equipped with extra railings to protect service personnel.