Bell 47G N9571

Summary

On 17 August 1997 at about 20:00 local time, a Bell 47G registered N9571 was involved in an accident near Wellpinit, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 1997 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Wellpinit, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.8909, -117.9902

Aircraft

Bell 47G

Registration

N9571

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Selah → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA97LA191

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, and his failure to maintain rotor blade clearance from terrain during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

As the pilot was landing the helicopter on a gravel bar on a bank of the Spokane River, a main rotor blade contacted the bank. The helicopter dropped and tumbled onto the rocks. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions. According to records kept by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot was operating a restricted-category aircraft on a personal flight. Also, the pilot's FAA Third Class Medical Certificate had expired about 8 months prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.