# NTSB DEN81FTI06: Bell 47G-3B, N14802, Thompson Falls, MT, May 4, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 4, 1981
- Place: Thompson Falls, MT · THOMPSON FALLS, MT
- Location: 47.5993° N, 115.3425° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Thompson Falls, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5993&lon=-115.3425&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 5, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126127
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTI06
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTI06

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1038   81/5/4  NR.THOMPSON FALLS,MT  BELL 47G-3B         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 48, 16000
        TIME - 1315                    N14802              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 12000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TROUT CREEK,MT              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ATMPTD LNDG ON 45DEG ROCKY SLOPE FOR PAX PICKUP.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14802](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14802-1982-04-15), registration cancelled 1982-04-15, S/N 6841 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3B
- Registry model: [Bell 47G3B2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g3b2a) (registry code 1181025) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

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

- [Accident 19810504022389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810504022389A), May 4, 1981: Bell 47G3B2A, Thompson Falls, MT, Destroyed. Pilot was attempting to pick up men on side of mountan. Rotor blade struck slope causing crash.

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.