Bell 47G 3B accident near Oglesby, Texas, March 30, 2014
On March 30, 2014 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1964 Bell 47G 3B (helicopter), registered N147WT, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Oglesby, Texas. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel’s failure to safety wire the throttle control adapter per maintenance instructions when the carburetor was replaced and to detect that the adapter was not safety wired during the annual inspection, which resulted in the throttle control disconnecting and subsequent loss of engine control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 2014 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oglesby, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G 3B, built 1964 · all 47G 3Bs on the register
- Registration
- N147WT · registry record · serial 2920
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during an en route climb in the helicopter, he increased the throttle and noticed a "slight resistance." Shortly after, the throttle freed up, but it was ineffective; there was no corresponding change in engine power when he moved the throttle control. Both the engine and rotor rpm were indicating in the green, but they began to decrease when he adjusted the collective. When he stopped moving the collective, the engine and rotor rpm increased rapidly and continued to accelerate. The pilot initiated an autorotation and cut off the fuel. The pilot then increased the collective, and the helicopter yawed left, touched down, and rolled over to the right, which resulted in the tailboom separating. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the throttle control adapter had disconnected from the serrated shaft on the carburetor. The retention screws on the throttle control adapter were not safety wired to the carburetor idle stop lever as required in the helicopter manufacturer's maintenance manual. A review of maintenance records revealed that the carburetor was removed and replaced about 1 1/2 years before the accident and that the helicopter's last annual inspection was conducted about 4 1/4 months before the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Autorotation Loss of control in flight
- Roll over during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › (general) › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 3,000 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,280 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 2013; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-B1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lazy 7 Agricultural Services LLC
The flight
- Departed from: GOP Gatesville TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: GOP Gatesville TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from TPL, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN14LA174.