- Date
- July 7, 1989, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Tierra Amarilla, NM
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8132JBell 47G-3B-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 24, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890707021179A
- Case key
- 17737
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
The failure of the pilot to maintain rotor RPM during the premature lift-off which resulted in a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude conditions, and unsuitable terrain.
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
A takeoff was attempted from a ski slope, heading north, down slope. The plt estimated the winds were north at 5 knots. The density altitude was computed to be 11,000 ft. the plt said that during hover for takeoff, the rotor/engine RPM began to decay. He said he observed the engine RPM at 2,700 before the crash. The helicopter crashed 130 feet down slope from the lift off point, and rolled over. A post accident engine run failed to reveal any evidence to explain the reported loss of power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8132J
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-3B-2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 6772
- Engine
- Lycoming TVO-435-B1, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- El Aero Services, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- SAF
- Airport
- NONE
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 5,500 total · 50 in this make and model · 5,500 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °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.