# Accident 19971018047319A: Bell 47G3B, Winston, MT, October 18, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 18, 1997, 21:30 local time
- Place: Winston, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.5290° N, 111.7699° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5290&lon=-111.7699&mi=10
- Aircraft: N47AH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47AH) (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
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA006) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971018047319A

## Narrative

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

(-16) ON OCTOBER 18, 1997, AT APPROXIMATELY 2130 MST, BELL HELICOPTER N47AH, WHILE ON A ROUTINE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT YAWED SLIGHTLY, THEN THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT AUTOROTATED TO THE GROUND AND LANDED IN A FIELD WITH A LIGHT LEFT, NOSE DOWN SLOPE. ON IMPACT WITH THE GROUND, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM, JUST FORWARD OF THE TAIL ROTOR GUARD, SEPARATING THE REAR SECTION OF THE TAIL BOOM. BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE DAMAGED SUBSTANTIALLY. ON IMPACT THE LEFT FORWARD SECTION OF LANDING GEAR FOLDED DOWN AND UNDER THE CROSS TUBE, HOWEVER, THE FUSELAGE DID NOT INDICATE IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED BY THE OWNER TO A HANGAR AT HELENA AIRPORT, HELENA, MONTANA. POTENTIAL AIRWORTHINESS RESPONSIBILITY STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ITS OPERATION.

## 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 SEA98LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA006), Oct 19, 1997: Bell 47-G3B (N47AH), Winston, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fuel starvation due to fuel flow restriction from a failed carburetor automatic mixture control device. Factors include night light conditions for the forced landing.

## Other reports on N47AH (2)

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

- [Accident 20170724020609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170724020609A), Jul 24, 2017: Bell 47G-3B (N47AH), Toeterville, IA, Substantial damage. While performing agricultural spray operations five miles west of stacyville, IA. The pilot failed to maintain sufficient rotor prm to arrest his descent from…
- [Accident 20080814844439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080814844439A), Aug 14, 2008: Bell 47G3B (N47AH), Kenyon, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was performing aerial pesticide application in a Bell 47. He was about to begin his 8th field that day. The helicopter was positioned on a flatbed…

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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