Event FTW95LA105

Factual narrative

On February 1, 1995, approximately 1500 central standard time, a Bell 47G-4A, N6SR, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near El Indio, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot and one passenger were not injured, but a second passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The following is based on the pilot/operator report. The helicopter was being used for predator control and was chasing a bobcat about 25 feet above the ground. The pilot said a right quartering tailwind gust caused the helicopter to lose tail rotor effectiveness and it began spinning to the right. He increased collective and throttle in an attempt to regain airspeed, but this caused the main rotor RPM to droop and altitude was insufficient to allow the helicopter to regain airspeed by diving. He then reduced collective to regain RPM, but the helicopter continued to spin and impacted the terrain. THE HELICOPTER, BEING USED FOR PREDATOR CONTROL, WAS 25 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND WAS CHASING A BOBCAT. THE PILOT SAID A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND GUST CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO LOSE TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS AND IT BEGAN SPINNING TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT INCREASED COLLECTIVE AND THROTTLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN AIRSPEED, BUT THIS CAUSED THE MAIN ROTOR RPM TO DROOP AND ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO ALLOW THE HELICOPTER TO REGAIN AIRSPEED BY LOWERING THE NOSE. THE PILOT THEN REDUCED COLLECTIVE TO REGAIN RPM, BUT THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO SPIN AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12