Bell 47G-3B1 N43CD

Summary

On 3 May 1987 at about 17:48 local time, a Bell 47G-3B1 registered N43CD, operated by Whirleybird Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Panama City Bch, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

3 May 1987 at 17:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Panama City Bch, Florida, United States

Coordinates

30.2005, -85.7893

Aircraft

Bell 47G-3B1

Registration

N43CD

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Whirleybird Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA87LA155

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 PLT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, THEN FAILED. HE THEN AUTOROTATED & SET THE HELICOPTER DOWN APRX 6 FEET OFFSHORE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG LOGBOOKS BY FAA PERSONNEL REVEALED THAT AD 62-23-02 WHICH REQUIRES INSP OF THE OIL FILTER EVERY 25 HOURS HAD BEEN OVERDUE BY 20.9 HOURS. INSP OF THE TRANSMISSION REVEALED THAT A 5 1/2 INCH PIECE FROM THE CLUTCH DRUM RING SEPARATED WHICH DISENGAGED THE MAIN ROTOR FROM THE ENG RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF MAIN ROTOR RPM. EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED CLUTCH DRUM RING REVEALED EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT IT FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.