Bell 47J2 N8476E

Summary

On 29 July 1992 at about 12:30 local time, a Bell 47J2 registered N8476E, operated by Western Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Adjuntas. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 July 1992 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Adjuntas

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47J2

Registration

N8476E

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Western Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Arecibo → Ponce

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA92FA156

4 people died.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT FAILED TO INSURE THAT THE ENGINE CONTAINED ADEQUATE OIL, AND THAT THE OIL DIP STICK WAS SECURE PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO MARIJUANA.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER, AND THEN A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD & THE ENGINE WAS NO LONGER AUDIBLE. THE HELICOPTER IMMEDIATELY MADE A TURN TO THE LEFT & DESCENDED. AS IT APPROACHED THE GROUND, THE ENGINE NOISE INCREASED. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED HARD ON TOP OF A HILL. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION OIL TANK AND ENGINE OIL SYSTEM CONTAINED 2 QTS OF OIL. THE TURN-TO-LOCK TYPE OIL STICK WAS NOT LOCKED, AND OIL RESIDUE WAS VISIBLE EXITING THE FILLER NECK AND FLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DOWN THE TAIL BOOM. NO OIL LEAKAGE WAS FOUND ON THE GROUND AT THE CRASH SITE. THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AN FAA INSPECTOR HAD NOTED OIL LEAKAGE IN AND AROUND THE HELICOPTER'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TOXICOLOGY TESTS RESULTS ON THE PILOT WAS POSITIVE FOR FOR 0.010 UG/ML (BLOOD-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID) MARIJUANA, ONE PASSENGER WAS POSITIVE FOR 0.038 UG/ML (BLOOD) MARIJUANA, AND ANOTHER PASSENGER WAS POSITIVE FOR 2.4 MCG/ML (URINE) DIPHENHYDRAMINE OR BENADRYL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.