Bell 47G3B1 N9417A

Summary

On 29 July 1986 at about 00:45 local time, a Bell 47G3B1 registered N9417A was involved in an accident near Albany, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

29 July 1986 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Albany, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

44.6197, -123.1299

Aircraft

Bell 47G3B1

Registration

N9417A

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lebanon → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA86LA182

1 person was seriously 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

A BELL 47G3B1 CRASHED INTO THE SOUTH SANTIAM RIVER AFTER CONTACTING POWER LINES WHILE ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THE CFI (HELICOPTER) PLT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE PRIVATE PLT (AIRPLANE) HELICOPTER STUDENT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT REPORTED HE AND THE STUDENT HAD BEEN CONDUCTING 'CONFINED AREA' LANDINGS AND HAD DEPARTED ONE AREA FOR ANOTHER. DURING THE FLT HELICOPTER WAS FLYING DOWN RIVER INTO THE SETTING SUN. THE CFI BECAME AWARE OF THE PWR LINES ABOUT 5 FEET AHEAD AND WAS UNABLE TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE CFI REPORTED THE POWER LINES WERE UNMARKED AND HIDDEN BY SUNGLARE OFF THE COCKPIT CANOPY AND SHADE FROM TREES ALONG THE RIVER BANK. THE HELICOPTER FLIPPED OVER AFTER CONTACTING THE WIRES AND FELL INTO THE RIVER. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE RIVER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.