Bell 47J-2 N49DA
1 November 1990 · Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 1 November 1990 at about 19:00 local time, a Bell 47J-2 registered N49DA, operated by Pigeon Forge Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 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 19:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.7201, -83.4902
- Aircraft
- Bell 47J-2
- Registration
- N49DA
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Pigeon Forge Helicopters, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Pigeon Forge → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL91FA013
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OF THE HELICOPTER, ALLOWING A TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT BEARING TO EXCEED WEAR LIMITS. THIS RESULTED IN HIGH LOADS ON THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT, AND THE RESULTING FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE DRIVE SHAFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE TWO PASSENGERS REPORTED THAT THEY HEARD A 'POP' SOUND, FOLLOWED BY THE HELICOPTER STARTING A CLOCKWISE SPIN TO THE RIGHT. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO THE TREES ON THE SIDE OF A STEEP SLOPE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED IMMEDIATELY FORWARD OF THE TAILBOOM EXTENSION TUBE. THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILED FROM FATIGUE CRACKING, PROPAGATING AT A HIGH RATE, SUGGESTING HIGH LOADS. THE T/R DRIVE SHAFT FORWARD BEARING HOUSING OUTER DIAMETER DIMENSION AND THE INNER DIAMETER OF THE TAILBOOM EXTENSION TUBE WERE WORN BEYOND REPLACEMENT LIMITS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE BELL MAINTENANCE AND OVERHAUL MANUAL. THE PASSENGER THREE-PLACE BENCH SEAT HAD BEEN ALTERED SO THAT THE INDIVIDUAL SEAT BELTS HAD BEEN MODIFIED INTO ONE SINGLE LONG BELT. THE BELT COULD BE OPENED ONLY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BELT; THE BUCKLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BELT WAS TAPED CLOSED WITH SILVER DUCT TAPE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1990 | Bell 47G | Riverside, California, United States | Riverside Air Service | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 1990 | Bell 47G-3B1 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States | Badger Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 3 |
| 2 Apr 1990 | Bell 47G-3B-2 | Hillsboro, Oregon, United States | Western Helicopter Service | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Nov 1990 | Bell 47-G3-B | Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States | Firefly, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Sep 1990 | Bell 47G-3B1 | Canon City, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1990 | Bell 47G-3B-1 | Hanson, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 1,633 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1990 | Olsen-Gordon VERI EZE | Hohenwald, Tennessee, United States | Creel, Rodney J. | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Dec 1990 | Cessna 150J | Ripley, Tennessee, United States | Shelby Aviation, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Nov 1990 | Bell 412 | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Nov 1990 | Saab-Scania Ab (Saab) 340A | Memphis, Tennessee, United States | Heleasco Twenty Four, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Oct 1990 | E Tn Plts Starduster STARDUSTER II | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Oct 1990 | Cessna 152 | Centerville, Tennessee, United States | Mark J. Cobb | No injuries | - |