19901101048849A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 47J-2 · Gatlinburg, TN · November 1, 1990

Date
November 1, 1990 · 14:00 local
Place
Gatlinburg, TN
Phase of flight
Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N49DA
NTSB investigation
NTSBATL91FA013
Reported as
Bell 47J2
Reported engine
Lycoming VO540B1B3
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
8,440 total385 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Tail rotor drive shaft failed due to drive shaft housing and bearings worn beyond minimums. Spiraled into trees.

As the FAA filed it

TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED DUE TO DRIVE SHAFT HOUSING AND BEARINGS WORN BEYOND MINIMUMS. SPIRALED INTO TREES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.