Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
TRANSMISSION SHEAR BOLTS FAILED CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER TO THE ROTOR SYSTEM, AND THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DURING HIS AUTOROTATION ATTEMPT.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On November 9, 1993, at 0930, a Bell B-47G3B2, N8169J, operated by Farm & Forest Helicopter Service, impacted terrain at Toledo, Washington, during an emergency forced landing. There was no flight plan filed for the local external load flight, conducted under 14 CFR 133, that was on takeoff from a field site when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated pilot was not injured in the accident. The aircraft was substantially damaged. There was no fire.
The pilot reported he was on takeoff with an external load of Christmas trees when he heard a grinding sound and the main rotor RPM began to decrease. He initiated an autorotation from about 40 to 50 feet into the christmas trees. On landing, the tair boot hit a tree and bent. An examination of the wreckage revealed fractured main transmission shear bolts.
The pilot attributed the failure to power impulses after repeated compressor stalls or partial flame-outs of the turbine engine.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA94LA029