Bell BH-47G3B2 N4073G
1 March 1990 · Des Moines, Washington, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 1 March 1990 at about 23:50 local time, a Bell BH-47G3B2 registered N4073G, operated by Richard H. Butz, was involved in an accident near Des Moines, 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 23:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Des Moines, Washington, United States
- Coordinates
- 47.3803, -122.3099
- Aircraft
- Bell BH-47G3B2
- Registration
- N4073G
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Richard H. Butz
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Auburn → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA90LA048
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, CAUSE UNDETERMINED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RECOVERED AND EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AND RPM DECREASED FROM 3200 TO 2800. THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO REACH SHORE WITH THE AVAILABLE POWER AND DITCHED THE AIRCRAFT IN A SALTWATER BAY. HE WAS RECOVERED FROM THE WATER BY A PRIVATE BOAT. THE AIRCRAFT SANK IN 300 FT. DEEP WATER AND WAS NOT RECOVERED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jan 1990 | Cessna 177B | Friday Harbor, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Feb 1990 | Bell 206B | Winthrop, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1990 | Cessna 140 | Vancouver, Washington, United States | Bogar, Floyd | No injuries | - |
| 12 Mar 1990 | Cessna 150J | Graham, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Mar 1990 | Bell 206 | Cougar, Washington, United States | Bluebird Helicopter | No injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 1990 | Becker BENSEN B8M | Burlington, Washington, United States | Lawrence D. Becker | Serious injuries | - |