# Accident 19980503008229A: Bell 47G3B2A, Stanwood, WA, May 3, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 1998, 12:00 local time
- Place: Stanwood, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.2104° N, 122.2791° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2104&lon=-122.2791&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7965J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7965J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G3B2A (registry code 1181025, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g3b2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TVO-435-GIA (registry code 41526, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B2A
- Reported engine: LYC TVO435F1A
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,300 total, 900 in this make and model, 62 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA069) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980503008229A

## Narrative

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

SIGHTSEEING TOURS FROM STANWOOD FAIRGROUNDS WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND THE ACFT MADE AN EMERG LANDING. (.4)WHILE REDUCING POWER IN THE INITIAL CLIMB IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT OF THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL ENGINE POWER LOSS, FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION TO AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD, WHEREUPON THE MAIN ROTOR FLEXED DOWNWARD AND CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM DURING THE TOUCHDOWN. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER TWO CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED NEAR WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE CRANKSHAFT, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. BECAUSE BOTH RELEVANT FRACTURE SURFACES OF THE CONNECTING ROD WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED AND DISFIGURED BY REPEATED ROTATIONAL IMPACT POUNDING, THE ROD WAS NOT SUBMITTED FOR METALLURGICAL FAILURE MODE EXAMINATION.

## 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 SEA98LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA069), May 3, 1998: Bell 47G3B2A (N7965J), Stanwood, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the number two connecting rod, which led to additional internal engine damage and a complete loss of power. Factors include soft terrain in the area where the pilot found it necessary…

## Other reports on N7965J (2)

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

- [Incident 19880613045039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880613045039I), Jun 13, 1988: Bell 47G3B2A (N7965J), West Glacier, MT, Minor damage. Ground crew failed to tie metal pieces to net for sling loading. Wind blew one into tail rotor. Landed safely.
- [Incident 19840805069759I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840805069759I), Aug 5, 1984: Bell 47G3B2A (N7965J), West Glacier, MT, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during emergency landing after engine quit from fuel exhaustion.

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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