Plane Crash List

Bell 47G-3B-1 N73909

24 February 1994 · Gold Hill, Oregon, United States · Serious injuries

Summary

On 24 February 1994 at about 16:30 local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 registered N73909, operated by Pacific Air Research, Inc., was involved in an accident near Gold Hill, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 16:30
Classification
Accident
Location
Gold Hill, Oregon, United States
Coordinates
42.4809, -123.0609
Aircraft
Bell 47G-3B-1
Registration
N73909
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Pacific Air Research, Inc.
Operating rule
Part 137: Agricultural
Purpose of flight
Aerial Application
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
SEA94LA065

People

1 person was seriously injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 1 0 0

Probable cause

SEPARATION OF THE CROSSOVER FUEL LINE, AND THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN A PROPER RATE OF DESCENT DURING THE AUTOROTATION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE SPRAYING HERBICIDE THE HELICOPTER BEGAN LOSING POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A LANDING IN A CLEARING DURING WHICH A TOTAL POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE HELICOPTER THEN DESCENDED VERTICALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET BEFORE LANDING HARD. POST CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL LINE CROSSOVER 'T' FITTING WHICH ROUTES FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANKS TO THE GASCOLATOR AND ENGINE HAD SEPARATED AT ITS WELD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 47 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
17 Sep 1994 Bell 47G-5
N2280W
Pacific Ocean
no coordinates
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22 Mar 1994 Bell 47G-5A
N2991W
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26 Aug 1994 Bell 47 MARK-6
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18 May 1994 Bell 47G
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Sulphur, Oklahoma, United States - No injuries -
13 Apr 1994 Bell 47G-2
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17 Apr 1994 Bell 47G-3B-1
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Yuma, Arizona, United States Sundown Helicopters, Inc. No injuries -

All 1,633 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
29 Apr 1994 Cessna 172P
N53161
Hillsboro, Oregon, United States Eagle Flight Center, Inc. No injuries -
5 Jun 1994 Piper PA-38
N9271T
Sweet Home, Oregon, United States - No injuries -
6 Jun 1994 Siai-Marchetti SF.260B
N943TA
Prospect, Oregon, United States - No injuries -
8 Jun 1994 Schweizer SGS 1-26D
N7751S
North Plains, Oregon, United States Willamette Valley Soaring Club No injuries -
21 Jun 1994 Schweizer 269C
N7506A
Hillsboro, Oregon, United States Hillsboro Helicopters, Inc. No injuries -
21 Jun 1994 Cessna 150L
N19297
Hubbard, Oregon, United States Cougar Aviation No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States