Bell 47J-2A N73268

Summary

On 29 May 1982 at about 22:45 local time, a Bell 47J-2A registered N73268, operated by Alex Butchkosky, was involved in an accident near Marathon, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

29 May 1982 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Marathon, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Marathon (MTH)

Coordinates

24.7098, -81.0798

Aircraft

Bell 47J-2A

Registration

N73268

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Alex Butchkosky

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marathon → Marathon

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA82DA125

Nobody was injured.

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

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AN INTERMITTENT VIBRATION WAS FELT DURING THE MAGNETO CHECK BEFORE TAKEOFF. DURING A SECOND MAGNETO CHECK AT HIGH POWER, THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER CAME UP, A LOUD EXPLOSIVE NOISE WAS HEARD, AND A FIRE ERUPTED NEAR THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER ABANDONED THE HELICOPTER UNINJURED, BUT IT WAS DESTROYED. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN COMPLETED. HOWEVER, AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURES. A WITNESS STATED THAT WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF, THE REAR END OF THE RIGHT SKID CAUGHT UNDER A BOARDWALK, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OR BANKED, AND THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.