# Accident 19980114000319A: Bell 47G3B2, Spanish Fork, UT, January 14, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 14, 1998, 13:00 local time
- Place: Spanish Fork, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: DZEA
- Location: 40.0209° N, 111.5491° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0209&lon=-111.5491&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1461W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1461W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-2 (registry code 1181029, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-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 47G3B2
- Reported engine: LYC TVO435G1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 11,196 total, 11,196 in this make and model, 64 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98GA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98GA097) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980114000319A

## Narrative

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

COYOTE HUNT FLIGHT FOR DOA. DURING PULLUP HEARD CLUNK LOST PITCH ROLL AND VERTICAL CONTOL. IMPACTED TAIL FIRST. (.4)WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW LEVEL DURING A COYOTE HUNTING OPERATION, A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED AND THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.  EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF PARTIAL FAILURE AND/OR TOTAL FAILURE OF THE VALVE ASSEMBLIES IN ALL CYLINDERS. LABORATORY ANALYSIS REVEALED EVIDENCE OF PROGRESSIVE FAILURE IN THE VALVE SEATS.  THIS WAS INDICATIVE OF REPEATED OVERSPEED OF THE ENGINE.                                                                  (-23)AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AT VERY LOW ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING.  AIRCRAFT HIT TREE ON PASSENGER SIDE.

## 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 FTW98GA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98GA097), Jan 14, 1998: Bell 47G-3B-2 (N1461W), Spanish Fork, UT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of power due to repeated engine overspeeds. A related factor was unsuitable terrain.

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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