Scene Overview.
Scene Overview – Tree Strike. 
Helicopter – View from Left Side (inverted).
Helicopter – View from Right Side (inverted).
Main Wreckage – View from Rear.
Main Wreckage – View from Front.
The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Columbia, South Carolina
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
http://registry.faa.gov/N865Z
Location: Timmonsville, SC
Accident Number: ERA17FA164
Date & Time: 04/21/2017, 1632 EDT
Registration: N865Z
Aircraft: BELL-CARSON 47G SUPER C 4
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Unknown or undetermined
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On April 21, 2017, about 1632 eastern daylight time, a privately owned and operated Bell-Carson 47G Super C-4 helicopter, N865Z, was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire near a private uncharted airfield in Timmonsville, South Carolina. The private pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was privately owned and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated from Huggins Memorial Airport (58J) in Timmonsville about 1628.
According to the pilot's family, the purpose of the flight was to conduct a "golf ball drop" at a fundraising event about 13 miles northwest of the accident site. The pilot's family was not aware of the helicopter's planned route of flight, including any possible stops along the way.
A review of radar data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which did not include altitude data, revealed that, after the helicopter departed 58J (where the helicopter was based), it flew northwest in the general direction of the golf ball drop location. The last recorded radar data point was about 800 ft north of the accident site. At that time, the helicopter was flying northwest, away from the accident site, and its track was not aligned with the turf runway at the private uncharted airfield or the accident site. The remaining flight time and track after the radar data end, and before the helicopter collided with trees and terrain, could not be determined.
A witness at the uncharted private airfield residence, located about ¼ mile from the accident site, was outside at the time of the accident flight, heard the helicopter nearby, and thought it might have been approaching the airfield. The witness was unable to see the helicopter due to a tree line that blocked his view. He reported, "at first you could hear the rotor blades, then they got quieter and the engine sound got louder." Afterward, he heard "the rotors hitting the trees and the explosion of the crash" and saw a black plume of smoke rising from his neighbor's yard.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 60, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied:Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/26/2014
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 3600 hours (Total, all aircraft)
According to FAA records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and rotorcraft-helicopter. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on September 26, 2014, at which time he reported 3,600 hours of total flight experience. His medical certificate expired in September 2016. The pilot's logbook was not recovered, so his flight experience in this make and model helicopter, and the total number of hours that he flew between the time of his medical certificate and the time of the accident could not be determined.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: BELL-CARSON
Registration: N865Z
Model/Series: 47G SUPER C 4
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 1962
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: C-5005
Landing Gear Type: Skid;
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2950 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: FRANKLIN
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: 6V350A
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 235 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
The four-seat Bell-Carson model 47G Super C4 helicopter was manufactured in 1962. It was assembled by Carson Helicopters primarily from components manufactured by Bell Helicopters. The helicopter was powered by a 235-horsepower, six-cylinder Franklin 6V350A engine. The helicopter's logbooks were consumed by a postcrash fire, so the helicopter's maintenance history and airframe and engine operational times could not be determined.
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: FLO, 151 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 14 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1653 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 89°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 6500 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 12 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 220°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.9 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C / 15°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: TIMMONSVILLE, SC (58J)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: TIMMONSVILLE, SC (58J)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1628 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Florence Regional Airport (FLO), Florence, South Carolina, located about 14 miles east of the accident site, was the nearest weather reporting station. At 1653, the reported weather included wind from 220° at 12 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 6,500 ft, temperature 31°C, dewpoint 15°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.90 inches of mercury.
Airport Information
Airport: private (PVT)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 164 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Vegetation
Runway Used: 33
IFR Approach:None
Runway Length/Width: 2900 ft / 50 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Unknown
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 34.181944, -80.004167
All major components of the helicopter were accounted for at the accident site. The initial impact point was a freshly cut treetop about 60 ft above the ground and at the edge of tree line. The tail rotor personnel guard and left horizontal stabilizer were found near the base of the damaged tree along with several freshly cut branches.
The main wreckage path was about 100 ft in length and oriented on a magnetic heading of about 325°. Fragments of the main rotor blades were found in all directions from the main wreckage and within a radius of about 300 ft. The initial ground scar was about 90 ft beyond the first tree strike. The main wreckage came to rest on a 2-acre residential lawn about 100 ft to the right of the turf runway extended centerline and about 300 ft from the runway threshold. The turf runway was oriented 330° had not been recently maintained or used; the grass along the entire length of the runway was about 4 ft tall.
The helicopter came to rest inverted and oriented on a heading of about 210°. The helicopter was partially consumed by fire. The tail rotor gearbox was attached to the tailboom, which was separated at the aft center frame and was located about 50 ft southeast of the main wreckage. The right landing skid was separated from both cross-tubes, and the left skid remained attached to the front cross-tube.
The engine, transmission, and rotor mast remained together and were partially attached to the airframe and rotated about 90° aft. The main rotor hub remained mounted to the mast with both blade grips attached. The two wooden main rotor blades were fragmented with pieces scattered throughout the accident site. The metal spar and a 10-ft-long section of blade forward of the spar remained attached to one of the blade grips. The metal spar and a 1-ft section of blade remained attached to the other blade grip.
The tail rotor driveshaft was bent upward just forward of the tail rotor gearbox input quill, and tree bark was observed where the driveshaft was bent. The tail rotor driveshaft and gearbox could not be rotated due to impact damage, but, after removal of the bent driveshaft, the tail rotor gearbox rotated freely. Both metal tail rotor blades were fracture separated just outboard of the blade grips. The blades exhibited minor bending damage but were mostly intact. The blades showed no chordwise scratches or leading-edge damage other than those in the area of the separation fractures.
Both cyclic control pedestal assemblies were damaged and found separated from their mounts. Remnants of the collective control stick were found separated from the structure and mostly consumed by fire. The pilot-side and copilot-side anti-torque pedal assemblies remained connected to one another but were separated from the helicopter structure. Two cables were found attached to the damaged tail rotor quadrant; they were continuous to the overload breaks at the aft center frame. One cable was found attached to the tail rotor pitch control assembly with an overload break near the forward end of the tailboom. The tail rotor pitch control mechanism moved smoothly when the cable was pulled.
The engine accessory section was damaged, and fragments of the engine case were separated, exposing the accessory gears. The starter, hydraulic pump, and both magnetos were separated from the engine and were fire damaged. The carburetor was partially attached to the engine; the mixture control remained attached; and the throttle control input rod end was fractured, consistent with overload. The carburetor heat plenum was separated from its mount, and the control cable remained attached to the plenum. The engine remained attached to the transmission. The crankshaft could not be manually rotated.
Most of the avionics components were partially or completely consumed by fire. The transponder could not be identified in the wreckage, its setting (STBY ON, or ALT) could not be determined. Burned paper consistent with pages of maintenance records were found throughout the main wreckage area. No remnants of golf balls were found.
Medical And Pathological Information
An autopsy of the pilot was performed by Newberry Pathology Associates, Newberry, South Carolina. The pilot's cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries.
Toxicology testing performed by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana) in the pilot's liver specimens (0.0374 µg/ml) and cavity blood specimens (0.0185 µg/ml).
The testing also identified tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (THC-COOH, an inactive metabolite of THC) in the pilot's liver (0.3438 µg/ml), urine (0.3087 µg/ml), and cavity blood (0.0253 µg/ml) specimens. Cavity blood can be redistributed postmortem from other areas of the body, so the postmortem cavity blood level might be different than the level at the time of an accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Drugs and Human Performance Fact Sheet for marijuana states the following:
It is difficult to establish a relationship between a person's THC blood or plasma concentration and performance impairing effects. Concentrations of parent drug and metabolite are very dependent on pattern of use as well as dose...most behavioral and physiological effects return to baseline levels within 3-5 hours after drug use, although some investigators have demonstrated residual effects in specific behaviors up to 24 hours, such as complex divided attention tasks. Psychomotor impairment can persist after the perceived high has dissipated.
NTSB Identification: ERA17FA164
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, April 21, 2017 in Timmonsville, SC
Aircraft: BELL-CARSON 47G SUPER C 4, registration: N865Z
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On April 21, 2017, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a privately owned and operated Bell-Carson Super C-4 helicopter, N865Z, was destroyed by collision with trees, terrain, and a post-crash fire at a private airstrip in Timmonsville, South Carolina. The private pilot was fatally injured. The local flight departed the Huggins Memorial Airport (58J), Timmonsville, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to family members, the purpose of the flight was to conduct a "golf ball drop" at a fundraising event about 13 miles northwest of the accident site.
A witness who was at his private airfield residence located about ¼ mile from the accident site, was outside, heard the helicopter nearby, and thought it may have been approaching his airfield. He was unable to see the helicopter due to the tree line that blocked his view. He said "at first you could hear the rotor blades, then they got quieter and the engine sound got louder." He then "heard the rotors hitting the trees and the explosion of the crash." Shortly thereafter he observed a black plume of smoke rising from his neighbor's yard.
The helicopter was examined at the accident site, and all major components were accounted for at the scene. The wreckage path was oriented about 325° magnetic and was about 90 feet in length. The initial impact point was in a treetop about 60 feet above the ground at the edge of tree line. The tail rotor personnel guard and left horizontal stabilizer were found near the base of the damaged tree.
The initial ground scar was about 90 feet beyond the first tree strike, and the main wreckage came to rest about 10 feet beyond that point, and about 300 feet prior to the approach end of the grass runway which was oriented 330/150°.
The helicopter came to rest inverted, oriented about 210° and was partially consumed by fire. The tail boom, with tail rotor gearbox attached was separated at the aft center frame, and located about 50 feet southeast of the main wreckage. The right landing skid was separated from both cross tubes and the left skid remained attached to the front cross tube.
The engine, transmission and rotor mast remained together and partially attached to the airframe and rotated about 90° aft. The main rotor hub remained mounted to the mast with both blade grips attached. The wooden main rotor blades were fragmented, with pieces scattered about the crash site. The metal spar and a 10-foot-long section of blade forward of the spar, remained attached to one of the blade grips. The metal spar and a one-foot section of blade remained attached to the other blade grip.
The tail rotor driveshaft was bent upward just forward of the tail rotor gearbox input quill and tree bark was observed in the bend. The tail rotor driveshaft and gearbox would not rotate due to impact damage. After removal, the tail rotor gearbox rotated freely by hand.
Both cyclic control pedestal assemblies were damaged and found separated from their mounts. The assembly found near the left side of the helicopter had the cyclic control stick attached, the one found near the right side of the helicopter did not. Remnants of the collective control stick were found separated from the structure and mostly consumed by fire. The left and right pairs of anti-torque pedals remained attached to one another, separated from the helicopter structure. Two cables were found attached to the damaged tail rotor quadrant, they were continuous to overload breaks at the aft center frame. One cable was found attached to the tail rotor pitch control assembly with an overload break near the forward end of the tail boom. The tail rotor pitch control mechanism moved smoothly when the cable was pulled.
The engine accessory section was damaged and fragments of the engine case were separated, exposing the accessory gears. The starter, hydraulic pump, and both magnetos were separated from the engine and fire damaged. The carburetor was partially attached to the engine, the mixture control remained attached, the throttle control input rod end was fractured consistent with overload. The carburetor heat plenum was separated from its mount, the control cable remained attached to the plenum. The engine remained attached to the transmission.
The helicopter's maintenance records were not immediately recovered and the maintenance history of the helicopter could not be determined. Burned pages consistent with maintenance records were found throughout the area of the main wreckage.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a
private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and rotorcraft-helicopter. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on September 26, 2014, at which time he reported 3,600 total hours of flight experience.
At 1653, the reported weather at Florence Regional Airport (FLO), Florence, South Carolina, about 14 miles east of the accident site included few clouds at 6,500 feet and wind from 220° at 12 knots. Visibility was 10 statute miles, the temperature was 31° C, and the dew point was 15° C. The helicopter was retained for further examination.
Obituary for Dr. James Robert Schuster
Dr. James Robert Schuster, 60, husband of Helene, father of Taylor, passed away Friday, April 21, 2017 flying his helicopter, which is something he loved to do. For those who didn't know him, and there aren’t many, because he very rarely met a stranger; he was the most loving, compassionate, genuine, and wise husband, father, grandfather, sibling, uncle, son and friend that we could have asked for. He was an amazing man with an infectious smile; he gave the best hugs, and had the ability to immerse you in the most interesting conversations. He was truly a man with a zest for life, which was contagious for all those lucky enough to cross his path.
Jim was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and was the third of six children born to John and Mary Lou Schuster, whom he absolutely adored and who he was absolutely adored by. He was a graduate of West Florence High School, Francis Marion University, and the Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine (MUSC). He considered himself to be a lucky man and frequently discussed the blessings in his life. He was also quite proud to have become a dentist, which afforded him the opportunity to help many people. He was a member of the American Dental Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the Pilot’s Association, the Country Club of South Carolina, and the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
His family and close friends are devastated by the loss of a man who was truly larger than life, and ask that you remember him fondly and speak of him often. He will be so greatly missed.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Source: http://www.stoudenmiredowling.com
DARLINGTON, SC (WBTW) – Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee identified the person killed in a helicopter crash near Timmonsville Highway Friday evening.
Hardee says Dr. James R. Schuster, 60, of Timmonsville died in the crash.
News13 crews on the scene say the crash occurred in the Oates community of Darlington County near Lamar.
According to the FAA, a 47G helicopter struck trees and crashed in a field in Darlington about 5 p.m. Friday.
Schuster was the pilot, and the only person on board. The FAA says it will release the aircraft registration now that the victim’s identity is released. The National Transportation Safety Board will determine probable cause.
Story and video: http://wbtw.com
DARLINGTON COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – A pilot was killed after a helicopter crashed in a Darlington County field Friday evening, according to Kathleen Bergen with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Bergen said via email the 47G helicopter struck some trees before crashing in the field around 5 p.m. She added the pilot was the only one onboard.
According to Darlington County Sheriff's Lt. Robert Kilgo, the crash happened at 5636 Oates Hwy. in the Timmonsville area.
Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee identified the victim as Dr. James R. Schuster, 60, of Timmonsville.
The National Transportation Safety Board will determine the probable cause of the crash, according to Bergen.
Story and video: http://www.wmbfnews.com
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