# Accident 19910331007939A: Bell 47G2, Waitsburg, WA, March 31, 1991

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 31, 1991, 08:15 local time
- Place: Waitsburg, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Idling Rotors
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: WPMG
- Location: 46.2197° N, 118.1491° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2197&lon=-118.1491&mi=10
- Aircraft: N38926, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38926-2012-11-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-2 (registry code 1181008, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G2
- Reported engine: LYC VO435A1F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA91LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA077) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910331007939A

## Narrative

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

MAIN ROTOR SEPARATED FROM MAST JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN. LOCK WASHERS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED ON RECENT MAINTENANCE.

## 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 SEA91LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA077), Mar 31, 1991: Bell BH-47G2A (N38926), Waitsburg, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE MAIN ROTOR MAST NUT AND LOCK WASHER BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEPARATION OF THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM.

## Other reports on N38926 (5)

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

- [Accident 20050704014629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050704014629A), Jul 4, 2005: Bell 47G2 (N38926), Oroville, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) While involved in aerial application, suffered sudden, complete loss of power. Autorotation initiated to cherry orchard nw of area being sprayed. Main…
- [Accident 19770919027669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770919027669A), Sep 19, 1977: Bell 47G2 (N38926), Mountain View, AR, Destroyed. Low downwind turn after liftoff
- [Accident 19760717022919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760717022919A), Jul 17, 1976: Bell 47G2 (N38926), Mcallen, TX, Substantial damage. Plt un arrest sink rate,had to lnd.
- [Accident 19750526014279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750526014279A), May 26, 1975: Bell 47G2 (N38926), Denmark, AR, Substantial damage. Bell yoke tail rotor hub p/n 47-641-057-009 failed.
- [Accident 19730406007229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730406007229A), Apr 6, 1973: Bell 47G2 (N38926), Owatonna, MN, Substantial damage. FAA production test flt.13 lbs over max gross wt,fwd CG limit,60 lbs over max cabin load. Lost ctl.

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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