Bell 47G-4A accident near Charleston, West Virginia, April 13, 1983
On April 13, 1983 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Bell 47G-4A (helicopter), registered N4749R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charleston, West Virginia (Kanawha airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1983 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Charleston, West Virginia · Kanawha · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-4A · all 47G-4As on the register
- Registration
- N4749R · no longer on the register · serial 7650
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT APRX 500 FT AGL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING, HE HAD TO MANEUVER TO AVOID TREES & A RIDGE IN ORDER TO LAND IN A SUITABLE AREA. DURING THIS TIME, ROTOR RPM DROPPED & A CRASH LANDING OCCURRED. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE TIMING GEAR, PN 67687, HAD FAILED & A TOOTH HAD SEPARATED. ALSO, THE WOODRUFF KEY, PN STD-858, HAD FAILED. A METALURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE ON BOTH PARTS. FAILURE OF THE TIMING GEAR ORIGINATED AT AN INNER CORNER OR THE GEAR KEYWAY. THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED 613 HRS OF FLT TIME SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,570 hours in all; 639 in this make and model; 263 in the last 90 days; 4,474 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,123 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 12, 1982; 613 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-B1B3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Appalachian Power Company
The flight
- Departed from: Roanoke VA at 8:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 4,750 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from CRW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.