# Accident 20181102023229A: Bell 47G-3B-1, Iowa Park, TX, November 2, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 2, 2018, 11:30 local time
- Place: Iowa Park, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9419° N, 98.6022° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9419&lon=-98.6022&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1159W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1159W-2021-12-04) (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 47G-3B-1
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TV0-435 SER (280 HP)
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 14,961 total, 90 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR19LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA019) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181102023229A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT PREFLIGHTED THE HELICOPTER ON FRIDAY MORNING BEFORE FLYING IT 65 NM FROM HIS HOME TO F14, ABOUT A 20 MINUTE FLIGHT. HE LANDED AND MEET WITH HIS CFI. AFTER ANOTHER PREFLIGHT AND SERVICING THE HELICOPTER, THEY TOOK OFF TO PRACTICE AUTOROTATIONS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. AFTER 5 PRACTICE AUTO ROTATIONS TO THE SIDE OF RUNWAY 30 TERMINATING WITH POWER RECOVERIES, THEY SET-UP FOR A HYDRAULICS OFF RUN-ON LANDING. THEY EXPANDED THEIR TRAFFIC PATTERN, PLANNING ON A TOUCHDOWN ON RUNWAY 30. THE ENGINE QUIT AS THE HYDRAULICS WERE BEING TURNED OFF. THEY WERE TOO FAR OUT ON FINAL TO MAKE IT TO RUNWAY 30 AT F14. THE PILOT TURNED THE CONTROLS OVER TO THE CFI WHO TURNED LEFT TO AUTOROTATE INTO AN OPEN FIELD. THEY LOST ROTOR RPM AS THEY CROSSED OVER A UTILITY WIRE ON THE EAST EDGE OF THE LANDING SITE. HALF OF THE LOWER TAIL FIN (VERTICAL STABILIZER) WAS SLICED OFF AS IT CUT THROUGH THAT WIRE. WITH LOW ROTOR RPM AND A HIGH SINK RATE THE MAIN ROTOR DEFLECTED DURING TOUCHDOWN AND CUT OFF THE TAILBOOM. THE HELICOPTER REVERSED DIRECTION AND RESTED ON IT?S RIGHT SIDE. THE SKIDS WERE TORN OFF IN THE SOFT MARSHY GROUND. THERE WAS NO POST-CRASH FIRE.

## 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 WPR19LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA019), Nov 2, 2018: Bell 47G (N1159W), Wichita Falls, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

## Other reports on N1159W (2)

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

- [Accident 19860509016679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860509016679A), May 9, 1986: Bell 47G3B1 (N1159W), Panama City, FL, Substantial damage. Engine lost power due to carburetor ice. Main rotor blade severed tail boom on landing. Did not use carburetor heat.
- [Accident 19800816066009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800816066009A), Aug 16, 1980: Bell 47G3B1 (N1159W), Blakely, GA, Substantial damage. Pilot became incapacitated during spray operation. Hit wires. Had been overexposed to toxic parathion.

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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