- Date
- June 15, 1982, 13:25 local (17:25 UTC)
- Place
- Kittanning, PA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9276ZBell 47G-3B-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 15, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820615022539A
- Case key
- 71278
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
The helicopter was on a powerline patrol flight with three occupants on board. While proceeding along the powerline with a tailwind, the pilot started to climb over a hill. He stated to the passengers that he was unable to out climb the hill, then circled to the right and gained more airspeed to top the hill. After topping the hill, he started down the other side while to the left and about 10 ft above the powerline with an airspeed of 0 to 20 KTS. About 1/4 mile down the hill and at 200 ft lower elevation, the helicopter approached another line that crossed over the line that was being patrolled. At about that time, the helicopter entered a steep turn over the line being patrolled and below the other. The helicopter avoided the lines, but crashed. The transmission sheared during impact, moved forward, and caused fatal injury to the pilot. The passengers suspected a loss of power, but no precrash failure was found. AC61-13B warns of possible "settling with power" in steep power approaches near zero airspeed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9276Z
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-3B-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2982
- Airframe hours
- 3,884
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540, 280 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Evergreen Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Evergreen Helicopters, Inc.
- Departed
- Kittanning, PA
- Destination
- Kittanning, PA
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
- 34
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 2,200 total · 804 in this make and model · 2,200 as pilot in command · 68 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Temperature
- 176 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.