# Accident 19900301052099A: Bell 47G3B2, Des Moines, WA, March 1, 1990

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 1, 1990, 15:50 local time
- Place: Des Moines, WA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.3803° N, 122.3099° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3803&lon=-122.3099&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4073G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4073G-2012-11-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-2 (registry code 1181029, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TVO-435-GIA (registry code 41526, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B2
- Reported engine: LYC VO435*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,900 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA90LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA048) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900301052099A

## Narrative

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

ENGINE LOST POWER AT CRUISE. DITCHED IN 300 FEET OF WATER. HELICOPTER SANK. CAUSE POWER LOSS UNKNOWN.

## 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 SEA90LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA048), Mar 1, 1990: Bell BH-47G3B2 (N4073G), Des Moines, WA, destroyed. Probable cause: PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, CAUSE UNDETERMINED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RECOVERED AND EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

## Other reports on N4073G (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19860425013979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860425013979A), Apr 25, 1986: Bell 47G3B2 (N4073G), Santa Fe, NM, Substantial damage. Landed hard from practice hover and spread skids. Main rotor blades struck tailboom. Student claimed turbulence.

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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