Bell 47G-3B-1 N304JP

Summary

On 17 April 1994 at about 03:00 local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 registered N304JP, operated by Sundown Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Yuma, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 April 1994 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Yuma, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

32.7208, -114.5090

Aircraft

Bell 47G-3B-1

Registration

N304JP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Sundown Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

LAX94LA200

Nobody was injured.

an uncommanded engine deceleration to idle due to the improper installation of the throttle arm on the carburetor shaft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the helicopter had completed a swath run and was pulling up to clear a line of trees when the engine decelerated to idle. The pilot entered an autorotation and landed hard, damaging the skids and the fuselage. Postaccident inspection of the engine revealed that the throttle arm had come off the carburetor throttle body shaft. The operator stated that the arm and shaft were new components, installed on February 24, 1994, by a contract mechanic. The operator also stated that an 'excessive amount (about 2 inches) of safety wire was on the arm, which allowed the arm to slip off the shaft.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.