Bell 47G-2 N1161N
24 June 1989 · Centralia, Washington, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 24 June 1989 at about 15:45 local time, a Bell 47G-2 registered N1161N was involved in an accident near Centralia, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Centralia, Washington, United States
- Coordinates
- 46.7391, -122.9499
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2
- Registration
- N1161N
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Centrailia → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA89LA120
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS CLEARANCE OVER TREES, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT TAIL ROTOR STRIKE WITH THE TREES AND LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL. THE TREES WERE A RELATED FACTOR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PLT WAS MAKING A TURN AROUND MANEUVER OVER TREES BETWEEN SWATH RUNS, WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD 'POP' & LOST TAIL ROTOR CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN ROTATING & THE PLT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION. HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED WHILE IT WAS ROTATING, THEN IT ROLLED OVER. AN EXAM OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SYS REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES, AS WELLAS TORSIONAL FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT, BUT NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE WAS FOUND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug 1989 | Bell 47G-2A-1 | Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 May 1989 | Bell 47L | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | Allied Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 26 May 1989 | Bell 47D-1 | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Oct 1989 | Bell 47G | West Palm Beach, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Nov 1989 | Bell 47G/TOMCAT MK5 | Elberton, Georgia, United States | Ag-Rotor Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Oct 1989 | Bell 47G-2A-1 | Plymouth, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 1,633 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1989 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415D | Vancouver, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 1989 | Cessna 140 | Amboy, Washington, United States | Larry Cahoon | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 1989 | Cessna 172 | Bremerton, Washington, United States | Flight Tech, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Nov 1989 | Cessna A-185-F | Seattle, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Nov 1989 | Hiller UH-12E | Raymond, Washington, United States | Glacier Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 11 Dec 1989 | Aero Commander 600 S-2D | Walla Walla, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |