# Accident 19901101048849A: Bell 47J2, Gatlinburg, TN, November 1, 1990

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 1, 1990, 14:00 local time
- Place: Gatlinburg, TN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.7201° N, 83.4902° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7201&lon=-83.4902&mi=10
- Aircraft: N49DA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49DA-2014-11-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47J-2 (registry code 1181104, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j-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 47J2
- Reported engine: LYC VO540B1B3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,440 total, 385 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL91FA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA013) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901101048849A

## Narrative

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

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

## 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 ATL91FA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA013), Nov 1, 1990: Bell 47J-2 (N49DA), Gatlinburg, TN, destroyed. Probable cause: THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OF THE HELICOPTER, ALLOWING A TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT BEARING TO EXCEED WEAR LIMITS. THIS RESULTED IN HIGH LOADS ON THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT, AND THE…

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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