Bell 47-G4A N474GA

Summary

On 26 August 1996 at about 11:15 local time, a Bell 47-G4A registered N474GA, operated by Hansen Helicopters Inc., was involved in an accident near Guam. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 August 1996 at 11:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Guam

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47-G4A

Registration

N474GA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Hansen Helicopters Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tamuning → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA315

1 person died.

loss of tail rotor control due to improper maintenance.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was towing a banner offshore. Witnesses reported everything was normal until the banner fell free from the helicopter. At that point the helicopter started rotating to the right and descended into the bay. During the on-scene investigation, the retaining nut for the universal joint to yoke assembly on the tail rotor drive was found not engaged but retained the safety wire. The safety wire was broken on the last twist prior to entering the universal's affixing hole. The solid drive pin located in the aft universal and through the drive shaft was missing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.