Bell 47G-3B1 N39268

Summary

On 31 May 1990 at about 13:45 local time, a Bell 47G-3B1 registered N39268, operated by Thomas M. Mazzeo, was involved in an accident near Becket, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 May 1990 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Becket, Massachusetts, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47G-3B1

Registration

N39268

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas M. Mazzeo

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pittsfield → Westfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC90LA122

Nobody was injured.

A POWER LOSS DUE TO OIL STARVATION, AFTER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL FAILED TO COMPLY WITH LYCOMING DIRECTIVES DURING THE ENGINE OVERHAUL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT AUTOROTATED INTO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS WAS A OIL CHANNEL WHICH WAS BLOCKED WITH DEBRIS AND LED TO THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 4 BEARING AND CONNECTING ROD. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OVERHAULED 6 YEARS AND 228.5 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. LYCOMING SAID THEIR POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THE OVERHAUL HAD NOT BEEN CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR DIRECTIVES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.