- Date
- June 28, 1990, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Seagrove, NC
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3081GBell BH-47G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 8, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900628022779A
- Case key
- 8252
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of a number four connecting rod bolt for an undetermined reason.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While on a routine power line patrol flight, the pilot heard a loud noise from the engine compartment. The helicopter yawed to the left, and split engine/rotor RPM indications were observed. An autorotation was performed in a partially cleared area and the helicopter impacted trees and terrain. Inspection of the engine revealed the number four connecting rod belt had failed. The connecting rod separated from the crankshaft and jammed itself against the crankshaft, resulting in engine stoppage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3081G
- Reported as
- Bell BH-47G
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3153
- Airframe hours
- 13,608
- Engine
- Lycoming VO540-B1B3, 305 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Inland Air Lines, Inc.
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 9, 1990 · 84 hours before
- Departed
- SOP · Southern Pines, NC
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 16,860 total · 6,500 in this make and model · 850 as pilot in command · 244 in the last 90 days · 112 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3081G · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.