# Accident 19980420007229A: Bell 47G3B1, Sedro Wooley, WA, April 20, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 20, 1998, 17:30 local time
- Place: Sedro Wooley, WA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.5898° N, 122.1290° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5898&lon=-122.1290&mi=10
- Aircraft: N80SD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80SD-2000-09-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-1 (registry code 1181028, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Reported engine: LYC TVO435B1A
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 179 total, 176 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA064) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980420007229A

## Narrative

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

DEPARTING SMALL CLEARING ROTORS HIT TREES. HAD TRIED DOWNWIND CLIMBOUT. ADDMITTED DRANK BEER PRIOR DEPARTURE. (.4)THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED A SMALL CLEARING AFTER VISITING FRIENDS.  ONCE OVER THE TREES THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO LOSE MANIFOLD PRESSURE AND RPM.  A RAPID DESCENT FOLLOWED, AND WHILE ATTEMPTING A PEDAL TURN TO REACH A CLEAR AREA, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK TREES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST IN A PARTIALLY UPRIGHT ATTITUDE AND WAS CONSUMED BY A POST CRASH FIRE.  EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.  THE OPERATOR PROVIDED FUEL SAMPLES, PRE-ACCIDENT SAMPLE FROM THE HELICOPTERS' FUEL TANK, POST-ACCIDENT SAMPLE FROM THE FUEL TRUCK METAL TANK, AND POST-ACCIDENT SAMPLE FROM WITHIN THE FUEL TRUCK'S FUEL HOSE WHICH WERE TESTED.  THE TESTS DID NOT REVEAL ANY CONTAMINATION TO THE FUEL TRUCK METAL TANK SAMPLE, HOWEVER THE OTHER TWO SAMPLES CONTAINED THE SAME SUBSTANCE, A SUBMERSED CLEAR GUM, IN THE HOSE THAT WAS IMMERSED IN AVIATION FUEL FOR SEVERAL DAYS.  A TEST REVEALED THE SUBSTANCE CONSISTED OF                                                                                                                   1,2-BENZENEDICARBOXYLIC ACID, BIS (2-ETHYLHEXYL) ESTER AND NEARLY 100% OF THE GUM WAS SOLUBE IN THE FUEL. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE DISTRIBUTOR OF THE VERSICON HOSE HAD ADVISED HIM THAT THE HOSE WAS ACCEPTABLE FOR USE WITH AVIATION FUELS.  SPECIFICATIONS PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE HOSE INCLUDED A NOTE WHICH STATED 'NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE VARIETY OF UNLEADED GAS EXISTING PRESENTLY.'

## 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 SEA98LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA064), Apr 20, 1998: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N80SD), Sedro Wooley, WA, destroyed. Probable cause: Fuel contamination and subsequent carburetor fuel flow restriction initiated by the use of an improper material (incorrect fuel hose). A factor was the trees.

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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