# Accident 20021201031599A: Bell 47G3B1, Panaca, NV, December 1, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 1, 2002, 13:10 local time
- Place: Panaca, NV
- Airport: Lincoln County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: ARUA
- Location: 37.7903° N, 114.4250° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7903&lon=-114.4250&mi=10
- Aircraft: N48020, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48020) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-1 (registry code 1181028, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TVO-435-GIA (registry code 41526, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03TA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03TA043) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021201031599A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WHILE HERDING WILD HORSES ENGINE LOST POWER AT APPROXIMATELY 35 FEET AGL IN A LEFT TURN. AIRCRAFT CONTACTED TERRAIN IN A HEELS LOW ATTITUDE CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR TO CONTACT THE TAILBOOM.

## 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 LAX03TA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03TA043), Dec 1, 2002: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N48020), Panaca, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: separation of the no. 6 cylinder intake valve head from the valve stem, which resulted in a loss of engine power. The mechanism responsible for the valve failure is unknown.

## Other reports on N48020 (2)

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

- [Accident 20030912023029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030912023029A), Sep 12, 2003: Bell 47G3B1 (N48020), Diamond, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) While herding wild horses with his helicopter, pilot went into a hover at about 40 feet above the ground. All of a sudden the engine wound up to a high…
- [Incident 20001219032869I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001219032869I), Dec 19, 2000: Bell 47G3B1 (N48020), Garrison, UT, Minor damage. (-23) While herding horses on a 14 CFR 91 blm contract, approximately 30 miles south of Garrison, Utah, engine decoupled from transmission. The sole occupant…

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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