# Accident 20031118027949A: Bell 47G3B2, Monmouth, OR, November 18, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 18, 2003, 14:52 local time
- Place: Monmouth, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: GJDA
- Location: 44.8333° N, 123.2333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8333&lon=-123.2333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7825S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7825S-2016-09-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-2 (registry code 1181029, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B2
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,855 total, 11,361 in this make and model, 226 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA04LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031118027949A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 11/18/03, AT 1452 PST, N7825S A BHT-47-G3B2 ROTORCRAFT, WAS REPORTED BY WITNESSES TO HAVE SHED A TAILROTOR BLADE, WHILE IN A HOVER, DROPPING A SLING LOAD OF CHRISTMAS TREES. WITNESSES ALSO INDICATE THAT AFTER THE BLADE LEFT THE AIRCRAFT, THE HELICOPTER SPUN AROUND THREE TIMES AND STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT SUFFERED SERIOUS BACK INJURIES. AFTER THE TAILROTOR COMPONENTS WERE GATHERED, THEY WERE INSPECTED FOR FATIGUE SIGNS OF EXTERNAL DAMAGE. NO EVIDENCE OF EXTERNAL STRIKE WAS NOTED ON THE SEPARATED BLADE. THE PARTING SURFACES OF BOTH HALVES OF THE SHED BLADE EXHIBITED SOME SLIGHT DISCOLARATION AND STRIATION OVER AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 1/2"-1" IN LENGTH. THE DISCOLORED AREA WAS ABOUT 2/3 OF THE CHORD LENGTH, AFT OF THE LEADING EDGE. THE TAILROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM CONTINUITY WAS UNBROKEN. A LARGE GROUND SCAR WAS NOTED OFF THE NOSE OF THE WRECKAGE AT A DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TIPS. DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO THE SKIDS, FUSELAGE FRAME, TRANSMISSION MOUNT STRUCTURE, COCKPIT, BUBBLE, AND MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PREVIOUSLY MODIFIED BY SOLOY CONVERSIONS FOR OPERATION WITH AN ALLISON 250-C20 TURBINE ENGINE. THE ELT HAS BEEN ACTIVATED AND WAS STILL ACTIVE AT THE SCENE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. (-23 AMENDMENT) BELL/NTSB REPORT PITTING ON INSIDE SKIN SURFACE FROM ETCHING TO BOND AT MANUFACTURE.

## 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 SEA04LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA018), Nov 18, 2003: Bell 47G-3B-2 (N7825S), Monmouth, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fatigue failure of a tail rotor blade during hover operations.

## Other reports on N7825S (1)

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

- [Accident 19730803026729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730803026729A), Aug 3, 1973: Bell 47G3B2 (N7825S), WA, Substantial damage

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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