# NTSB DEN83LA154: Bell 47G-3B-1 Soloy, N1334X, Townsend, MT, June 30, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 30, 1983, 09:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Townsend, MT
- Coordinates: 46.480636, -111.340736 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4806&lon=-111.3407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16105
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16105/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA154

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - emergency
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor)
  - performance data - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - adequate rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER MADE A HARD TOUCHDOWN DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT. DURING THE LANDING THEMAIN ROTOR SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. THE PILOT STRETCHED THE AUTOROTATIONAL GLIDE TO REACH A HAY FIELD AND LOST MAIN ROTOR RPM IN THE PROCESS. THE ENGINE DIED OF FUEL STARVATION BECAUSE OF A LOW FUEL STATE AND BECAUSE THE PILOT WAS DESCENDING AT HIGH SPEED WITH NOSE LOW. IN THIS ACFT ACCORDING TO A TEST PILOT WHO SPECIALIZES IN THIS MODEL CAUTION MUST BE USED TO AVOID UNUSUAL PITCH ATTITUDES WITH A LOW FUEL STATE. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD A 30 DEGREE NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE FUEL TANKS ARE SLANTED 10 DEGREES AFT TO COMPENSATE FOR A 7 DEGREE NOSE LOW ATTITUDE IN NORMAL HIGH SPEED (80 MPH) CRUISE. THE PILOT SAID THE GAUGES SHOWED ABOUT 10 GALLONS JUST BEFORE THE ENGINE QUIT. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE FELT STARVATION OCCURRED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1334X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1334X-2003-03-19), registration cancelled 2003-03-19, S/N 6555, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3B-1 SOLOY (47G-3B-1 S)
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TVO-435-GIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (registry code 41526, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 6555
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 400 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bear Tooth Helicopters
- Registered owner: Blain Sales, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 15, 1983, 22 hours before
- Departed: E. OF TOWNSEND, MT
- Destination: TOWNSEND, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,260 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 10,260 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19830630033409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830630033409A), Jun 30, 1983: Bell 47G3B1, Townsend, MT, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during emergency autorotation after engine quit from fuel exhaustion.

## Other investigations on N1334X (2)

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 ATL84FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA001), Oct 1, 1983: Bell 47G-3B1 (N1334X), Pliny, WV, destroyed, 1 fatal
- [NTSB DEN68A0006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN68A0006), Jul 22, 1967: Bell 47G3B1 (N1334X), Leadville, CO, 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.