Bell 47G3B1 N23DW
4 August 1982 · Buena Vista, Colorado, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 4 August 1982 at about 15:45 local time, a Bell 47G3B1 registered N23DW, operated by Colorado Division of Wildlife, was involved in an accident near Buena Vista, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 15:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Buena Vista, Colorado, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.8306, -106.1395
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G3B1
- Registration
- N23DW
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Colorado Division of Wildlife
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Salida → Salida
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN82DA155
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TRACK WILD SHEEP WITH TRANSMITTERS ATTACHED TO THEIR NECKS. WHILE MANEUVERING AT APPROXIMATELY 14,000 FEET ELEVATION AND EXECUTING A RIGHT TURN THE AIRCRAFT FELT "RUBBERY." HE APPLIED LEFT CYCLIC BUT THE LEFT SKID HIT A LARGE ROCK OUTCROPPING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,000 FEET AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT A WEIGHT OF 2421 LBS. THIS COMBINATION REACHES THE LIMITS OF PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY FOR THE AIRCRAFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47G3B1 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct 1982 | Bell 47G3B1 | Malta, Montana, United States | Mendel Flying Service, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Sep 1981 | Bell 47G3B1 | Albany, Oregon, United States | Pilot Personne | No injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 1981 | Bell 47G3B1 | Stewart, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1981 | Bell 47G3B1 | Salida, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Feb 1980 | Bell 47G3B1 | Alpine, Arizona, United States | Air Serv. INT. | Fatal | 1 |
| 10 Jul 1980 | Bell 47G3B1 | Mescalero, New Mexico, United States | Sundance Helic | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Mar 1982 | Cessna 172 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | John A. Meyer | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 1982 | Beechcraft V35A | Colorado Spring, Colorado, United States | Edward L. Walsh | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jul 1982 | American AA5B | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | Rainbow Aviation Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 1982 | Cessna 172 | Colorado Spring, Colorado, United States | Chesley M. Louitt | No injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 1982 | Quicksilver MXII | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | Jamee J. Andersen | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 1982 | Schweizer SGS 1-34 | Colorado Spring, Colorado, United States | Dennis Pollard | No injuries | - |