# NTSB WPR10CA283: Bell 47G-4A, N7069J, Shaw Island, WA, June 8, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 8, 2010, 14:27 local (21:27 UTC)
- Place: Shaw Island, WA
- Coordinates: 48.593334, -122.987503
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5933&lon=-122.9875&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76277
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA283
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76277/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76277
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA283

## Probable cause

The passenger's inadvertent movement of the mixture control during climb, resulting in a loss of engine power.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-4A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=1181031), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-4A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1181031), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bell 47G-4A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1181031), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he and his wife, a helicopter pilot-rated passenger, departed to the north. The passenger stated that she noticed that the carburetor temperature gauge needle was in the yellow arc and asked the pilot if he would like her to add carburetor heat. The pilot said yes, and watched as she reached for the lever. The pilot did not see her move the lever because her hand was blocking his view. He looked away to monitor the helicopter, which was then climbing to clear the treetops. The pilot stated that about a minute later, as the helicopter reached the shoreline, the engine sputtered and quit. The pilot noticed that the mixture control had been pulled out about halfway, to idle cut-off. He lowered the collective and entered an autorotation, landing the float equipped helicopter on the water. The helicopter then nosed over upside-down and sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and cabin. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident. The mixture and carburetor heat controls are next to each other on the pedestal.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he and his wife, a helicopter pilot-rated passenger, departed to the north. The passenger stated that she noticed that the carburetor temperature gauge needle was in the yellow arc and asked the pilot if he would like her to add carburetor heat. The pilot said yes, and watched as she reached for the lever. The pilot did not see her move the lever because her hand was blocking his view. He looked away to monitor the helicopter, which was then climbing to clear the treetops. The pilot stated that about a minute later, as the helicopter reached the shoreline, the engine sputtered and quit. The pilot noticed that the mixture control had been pulled out about halfway, to idle cut-off. He lowered the collective and entered an autorotation, landing the float equipped helicopter on the water. The helicopter then nosed over upside-down and sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and cabin. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident. The mixture and carburetor heat controls are next to each other on the pedestal.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7069J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7069J-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 7737, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-4A
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4a) (registry code 1181031) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 7737
- Airframe hours: 8806
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-540-B1B3 310 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Brantigan John W
- Registered owner: Brantigan John W
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2009, 7 hours before
- Departed: Fowler Field, WA
- Destination: Fowler Field, WA
- Airport: Fowler Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; flight instructor, private, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 4,460 total, 125 in this make and model, 4,100 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days
- Co-pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 1,670 total, 115 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KFHR, 6 nm away

## 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 20100608034879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100608034879A), Jun 8, 2010: Bell 47G-4A, Shaw Island, WA, Substantial damage. On June 9, 2010, during a telephone interview with the PIC, [privacy data omitted], he stated that the helicopter, Bell 47G (N7069J) which was equipped with…

## Other investigations on N7069J (1)

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 CHI83LA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA292), Jul 5, 1983: Bell 47G-4A (N7069J), Wheeler, IL, substantial damage

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76277. 844 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 844 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331524&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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