Bell 47G-3B-1 accident near Kremmling, Colorado, February 13, 2004
On February 13, 2004 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 (helicopter), registered N83702, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kremmling, Colorado (Mcelroy Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to attain landing flare and maintain adequate rotor rpm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 2004 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Kremmling, Colorado · Mcelroy Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B-1 · all 47G-3B-1s on the register
- Registration
- N83702 · no longer on the register · serial 3593
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was practicing autorotations from an altitude of 800 feet agl when "it appeared that the aircraft had inadequate main rotor rpm." The pilot said he attempted to recover to a hover; however, "sufficient rpm was not available to recover," resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 687 hours in all; 276 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 568 as pilot in command; 30 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 13, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,523.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 2004; 5.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 20V Kremmling CO at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from EGE, 36 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N83702 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.