# Accident 19990826042619A: Bell 47G2, Benton City, WA, August 26, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 26, 1999, 11:25 local time - Place: Benton City, WA - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Normal Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 46.2409° N, 119.4909° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2409&lon=-119.4909&mi=10 - Aircraft: N11VH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11VH-2011-07-19) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bell 47G-2 (registry code 1181008, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G2 - Reported engine: LYC VO435* - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 1 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA99LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA149) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990826042619A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.4)THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT, WHO HAD BEEN BUILDING THE HELICOPTER FOR SEVERAL YEARS, HAD RECORDED A TOTAL OF 5 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN 1988 AND AN ADDITIONAL 10 HOURS IN 1999 (JULY 19TH THROUGH AUGUST 24TH). ALTHOUGH ALL HIS FLIGHT TIME HAD BEEN LOGGED AS 'DUAL,' FAMILY MEMBERS REPORTED THAT A NUMBER OF THE EIGHT FLIGHTS CONDUCTED IN 1999 (ALL IN THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER), HAD BEEN FLOWN SOLO. AN EAR WITNESS REPORTED HEARING THE HELICOPTER DEPART FOLLOWED BY A 'POPPING' SOUND AND THEN SILENCE. THE WITNESS THEN OBSERVED A PLUME OF SMOKE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PILOT REPORTED HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS AND THEN BORROWED A USED CARBURETOR AND THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK CONTAINED AN ENTRY DATED 8/16/99 WITH THE REMARK 'FLIGHT TEST CHANGED CARB RUNNING GOOD.' THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN IN A STEEP DESCENT AND WRECKAGE DISTRIBUTION WAS CONFINED TO A SMALL AREA. MINIMAL LEADING EDGE ROTOR BLADE DAMAGE WAS NOTED AND THE ENGINE/ROTOR RPM INDICATOR WAS OBSERVED TO DISPLAY '0' AND '170' RPM RESPECTIVELY AT THE SITE. THE CENTER PORTION OF THE HELICOPTER INCLUDING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED IN THE POST-CRASH FIRE. (-23)AT APPROXIMATELY 1145 LCL,^PRIVACY ^TOOK-OFF FROM HIS RESIDENCE AND PROCEEDED IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION. A/C SUFFERED AN APPARENT LOSS OF POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED CAUSES. AUTOROTATION INITIATED, ROTOR RPM WAS ALLOWED TO DEGENERATE, A/C CRASHED, FIRST IMPATCH WAS ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE, SECOND IMPACT WAS MAIN ROTOR HUB, FOLLOWED BY A/C HITTING GROUND ON LEFT-HAND SIDE ABOUT 15 FEET WEST OF HUB IMPRINT. FUEL TANKS RUPTURED, FUEL IGNITED, A/C BURNED. PILOT DID NOT LEAVE A/C. ## 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 SEA99LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA149), Aug 26, 1999: Bell 47G-2 (N11VH), Benton City, WA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of power for undetermined reasons and the failure of the pilot to maintain adequate rotor RPM following the power loss. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack of certification and total… ## Other reports on N11VH (5) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19860612029399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860612029399A), Jun 12, 1986: Bell 47G2 (N11VH), Zillah, WA, Destroyed. The engine lost power after takeoff and the helicopter landed on a shed. A cylinder rod bolt failed from fatigue. - [Accident 19840614026489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840614026489A), Jun 14, 1984: Bell 47G2A (N11VH), Buena, WA, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck wind machine with main rotor blades while spraying an orchard. - [Incident 19830912063209I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830912063209I), Sep 12, 1983: Bell 47G2 (N11VH), Yakima, WA, Minor damage. Pilot started helicopter from outside with back to loading truck. Owner stood up in truck, was struck by rotors. - [Accident 19820518016599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820518016599A), May 18, 1982: Bell 47G2A (N11VH), Grandview, WA, Substantial damage. Helicopter crashed during autorotation after engine failure during spraying operation. - [Accident 19820409089409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820409089409A), Apr 9, 1982: Bell 47G2A (N11VH), Lyle, WA, Substantial damage. Helicopter lifted off on takeoff but it was unable to sustain flight. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.