Bell 47G-3B accident near Douglas, Wyoming, June 11, 1982
On June 11, 1982 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B (helicopter), registered N73221, was substantially damaged in an accident near Douglas, Wyoming (Field Strip). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- June 11, 1982 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Douglas, Wyoming · Field Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B · all 47G-3Bs on the register
- Registration
- N73221 · no longer on the register · serial 2757
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE MADE A NORMAL APPROACH TO THE LANDING SITE NEAR HIS LOADING DOCK. WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN, THE HELICOPTER AS ON A SLOPE, SO HE PICKED THE CRAFT BACK UP TO A HOVER. REPORTEDLY, HE WAS MOVING THE HELICOPTER ABOUT 4 FT FORWARD TO A MORE LEVEL POSITION WHEN A GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT DRIFTED THE CRAFT TO THE LEFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TOP OF THE LOADING DOCK. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS VARIABLE BETWEEN 270 AND 360 DEGREES AT 5, GUSTING 10 KTS.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,190 hours in all; 4,700 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,407 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO 435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Douglas WY at 9:00 am
- Destination: Douglas WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
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.