# NTSB NYC82FGM11: Bell 47G-3B-1, N9276Z, Kittanning, PA, June 15, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: June 15, 1982, 13:25 local (17:25 UTC)
- Place: Kittanning, PA
- Location: 40.8287° N, 79.5187° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kittanning, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8287&lon=-79.5187&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 15, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71278
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82FGM11
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71278/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FGM11

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - ground
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9276Z-1984-01-10), registration cancelled 1984-01-10, S/N 2892 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3B-1
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2982
- Airframe hours: 3884
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820615022539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820615022539A), Jun 15, 1982: Bell 47G3B1, Kittanning, PA, Destroyed. Helicopter crashed during power line patrol in mountainous terrain.

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.