Bell 47G-4A N7069J

Summary

On 8 June 2010 at about 21:27 local time, a Bell 47G-4A registered N7069J, operated by Brantigan John W, was involved in an accident near Shaw Island, Washington, United States. 2 people were 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

8 June 2010 at 21:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Shaw Island, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Fowler Field

Coordinates

48.5933, -122.9875

Aircraft

Bell 47G-4A

Registration

N7069J

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Brantigan John W

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fowler Field → Fowler Field

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10CA283

Nobody was injured.

The passenger's inadvertent movement of the mixture control during climb, resulting in a loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he and his wife, a helicopter pilot-rated passenger, departed to the north. The passenger stated that she noticed that the carburetor temperature gauge needle was in the yellow arc and asked the pilot if he would like her to add carburetor heat. The pilot said yes, and watched as she reached for the lever. The pilot did not see her move the lever because her hand was blocking his view. He looked away to monitor the helicopter, which was then climbing to clear the treetops. The pilot stated that about a minute later, as the helicopter reached the shoreline, the engine sputtered and quit. The pilot noticed that the mixture control had been pulled out about halfway, to idle cut-off. He lowered the collective and entered an autorotation, landing the float equipped helicopter on the water. The helicopter then nosed over upside-down and sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and cabin. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident. The mixture and carburetor heat controls are next to each other on the pedestal.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.