# Accident 19970515010809A: Bell 47G3B, Snohomish, WA, May 15, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 15, 1997, 16:10 local time
- Place: Snohomish, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.9402° N, 121.9993° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9402&lon=-121.9993&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8491E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8491E-2018-01-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B (registry code 1181026, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TVO-435-GIA (registry code 41526, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B
- Reported engine: LYC TVO435B1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 775 total, 36 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA97LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA112) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970515010809A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE PILOT WAS IN A COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER PILOT UPGRADE TRAINING PROGRAM. HE WAS NOT YET RATED FOR HELICOPTERS, BUT DID HOLD AN INSTRUCTOR'S ENDORSEMENT GRANTING HELICOPTER SOLO PRIVILEGES. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, HE WAS ABORTING A PRACTICE LANDING IN WIND CONDITIONS WHICH WERE CONDUCIVE TO AN UNANTICIPATED RIGHT YAW (ALSO KNOWN AS LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS, OR LTE) EVENT. AS HE COMPLETED A TURN TO DOWNWIND, THE HELICOPTER MADE AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT TURN. DESPITE THE APPLICATION OF LEFT PEDAL AND FORWARD CYCLIC BY THE PILOT, THE HELICOPTER 'CONTINUED TO ROTATE VIOLENTLY UNTIL IMPACT ON THE LEFT SIDE.' FAA INSPECTORS, WHO EXAMINED THE HELICOPTER AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, REPORTED THAT THEY FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION; THEY STATED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR SYSTEM WAS INTACT.

## 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 SEA97LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA112), May 15, 1997: Bell 47G-3B (N8491E), Snohomish, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's encounter with of a loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) situation, and his subsequent inadequate remedial action. Related factors included: wind conditions that were conducive to an…

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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