# NTSB ANC84IA035: Bell 47G-2A, N8495E, Anchorage, AK, February 15, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 14, 1984, 16:40 local (Feb 15, 1984, 01:40 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.22089, -149.850784 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2209&lon=-149.8508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84IA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4243/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84IA035

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - ignition system,magneto - failure,partial
  - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT TAIL ROTOR STRUCK SNOW DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING FOLLOWING AN ENG FAILURE. THE SNOW DEPTH VARIED BETWEEN 32 & 45 INCHES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE RT HAND MAG WAS FIRING INTERMITTENTLY ON TWO OF THE SIX DISTRIBUTOR CONTACTS WHICH WERE GAPPED CLOSER THAN THE PRESCRIBED MINIMUM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8495E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8495E-1990-12-27), registration cancelled 1990-12-27, S/N 2680 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-2A
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2a) (registry code 1181012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2680
- Airframe hours: 3446
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-435-A1E 240 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lee Conrad Houston
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 1983, 90 hours before
- Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 561 total, 286 in this make and model, 502 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANC, 2 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19840214011009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840214011009I), Feb 14, 1984: Bell 47G2A, Anchorage, AK, Minor damage. Engine quit. Tail rotor struck snow on authorization landing. Magneto timing off and leaky high tension leads.

## Other investigations on N8495E (3)

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 ANC90LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA095), Jun 24, 1990: Bell B-47G2A (N8495E), Dutch Harbor, AK, destroyed. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMANDS CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WHILE MANUEVERING TO AVOID TERRAIN.
- [NTSB ANC70AA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC70AA090), Jun 20, 1970: Bell 47G-2A (N8495E), Pilot Point, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC68A0033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC68A0033), Dec 15, 1967: Bell 47G-2A (N8495E), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage

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.

---
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.