# Accident 20030912023029A: Bell 47G3B1, Diamond, OR, September 12, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 2003, 09:10 local time
- Place: Diamond, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: ARUA
- Location: 43.0017° N, 118.5856° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0017&lon=-118.5856&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
- Reported engine: LYC TVO435*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 25,000 total, 15,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA03LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA189) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030912023029A

## Narrative

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

(-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 RPM AND THE MAIN AND TAIL ROTORS BECAME UNPOWERED. THE PILOT TRIED TO AUTO ROTATE TO A FIELD BUT ONLY HAD TIME TO PULL IN COLLECTIVE. HE HIT THE GROUND AT A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE HELICOPTER WAS TAKEN TO THE OPERATORS MAIN BASE. A DETAILED INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER TRANSMISSION AND ASSOCIATED PARTS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS AND THE OPERATOR. IF A FAILURE OF ANY PART IS DISCOVERED AN M OR D WILL BE FILED.

## 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 SEA03LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA189), Sep 12, 2003: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N48020), Diamond, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during hover.

## Other reports on N48020 (2)

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

- [Accident 20021201031599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021201031599A), Dec 1, 2002: Bell 47G3B1 (N48020), Panaca, NV, Substantial damage. (-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…
- [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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