Bell 47G-3B-1 N34691

Summary

On 1 August 1990 at about 11:30 local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 registered N34691 was involved in an accident near Hanson, 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

1 August 1990 at 11:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hanson, Massachusetts, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47G-3B-1

Registration

N34691

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wareham → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC90DNA04

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS OPERATING THE HELICOPTER AT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND IN AERIAL APPLICATION ACTIVITIES, THERE WAS A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A 'SLOW SPIN' AND DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT WAS 'SHEARED OFF' BETWEEN THE NUMBER 5 AND NUMBER 6 BEARINGS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.