# Accident 19810420020559A: Bell 47G3B1, Sharples, WV, April 20, 1981

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 20, 1981, 13:00 local time
- Place: Sharples, WV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Location: 37.9204° N, 81.8293° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sharples, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9204&lon=-81.8293&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7897S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7897S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-1 (registry code 1181028, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TVO-435-GIA (registry code 41526, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 19,990 total, 3,550 in this make and model, 85 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL81FIJ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FIJ05-126706) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810420020559A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOT LOST CONTROL OF HELICOPTER ON VERTICAL LIFT OFF. LEFT CONTROL PEDAL WAS NOT EFFECTIVE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL81FIJ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FIJ05-126706), Apr 20, 1981: Bell 47G (N7897S), Sharples, WV, substantial damage

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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