Plane Crash List

Bell 47G-3B-1 N40DP

4 July 1991 · Colorado Spring, Colorado, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 4 July 1991 at about 16:40 local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 registered N40DP, operated by Helitech, Inc., was involved in an accident near Colorado Spring, Colorado, United States. 2 people were 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.

The record

Date
at 16:40
Classification
Accident
Location
Colorado Spring, Colorado, United States
Coordinates
38.8292, -104.8100
Aircraft
Bell 47G-3B-1
Registration
N40DP
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Helitech, Inc.
Operating rule
Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
DEN91LA096

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 0 2

Probable cause

THE PILOT ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE HELICOPTER OUTSIDE THE DESIGN OPERATING ENVELOPE. FACTORS WERE: HIGH ALTITUDE, HIGH TEMPERATURE, AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING TAKEOFF FROM A HIGH ALTITUDE, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE HELICOPTER PAD, INSUFFICIENT POWER WAS AVAILABLE TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AND THE HELICOPTER SETTLED INTO ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TERRAIN DURING LANDING. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 11,700 FEET.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 47 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
28 Oct 1991 Bell 47D-1
N925V
Rome, Georgia, United States Silver Hawk Aviation No injuries -
26 Sep 1991 Bell 47G-5A
N59424
Pearsall, Texas, United States Tiller Helicopter Service, Inc Minor injuries -
19 May 1991 Bell 47G-3B-1
N73903
Malott, Washington, United States Cascade Helicopter No injuries -
20 Aug 1991 Bell 47G
N4062G
Kettleman City, California, United States Shafter Aviation, Inc. Minor injuries -
10 Sep 1991 Bell 47G-3B-2
N2618D
Chula Vista, California, United States K & L Helicopters Minor injuries -
15 May 1991 Bell 47-G3B1
N2619B
Hughesville, Pennsylvania, United States Agricultural Helicopter Serv. Serious injuries -

All 1,633 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
2 Oct 1991 Enstrom F-28C
N552H
Evergreen, Colorado, United States James B. Highbanks No injuries -
4 Oct 1991 Cessna 172M
N80650
Erie, Colorado, United States Tri-County Flight School No injuries -
13 Oct 1991 Piper PA-18-150
N4488Z
Telluride, Colorado, United States Christopher Carroll No injuries -
30 Oct 1991 Piper PA-24-250
N6815P
Ellicott, Colorado, United States Southwest Aircraft Recovery Minor injuries -
18 Nov 1991 Piper PA-28-161
N9811C
Greeley, Colorado, United States
no coordinates
P.c. Flyers No injuries -
20 Nov 1991 Cessna 172N
N80893
Boulder, Colorado, United States Dakota Ridge Aviation No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States