Bell 47G-3B-2 (SOLOY) accident near Great Falls, Montana, January 6, 1983
On January 6, 1983 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B-2 (SOLOY) (helicopter), registered N7039J, was destroyed in an accident near Great Falls, Montana. It was a public-use 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
- January 6, 1983 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Great Falls, Montana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B-2 (SOLOY) 47G-3B-2 ( · all 47G-3B-2 (SOLOY)s on the register
- Registration
- N7039J · no longer on the register · serial 6776
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE IN SEARCH OF ANIMALS, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION THROUGH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE DESCENT BY USING THE COLLECTIVE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE GROUND AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT AN AN-320-5 NUT HAD COME OFF OF A PIN ON THE ROTATING SWASHPLATE RING. THE PURPOSE OF THIS NUT WAS TO SECURE THE LINK AND SCISSORS TO THE SWASHPLATE PIN. WITH THE NUT OFF, A LOSS OF CONTINUITY OCCURRED IN THE ROTATING CONTROLS OF ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE. A COTTER PIN WAS REQUIRED TO SECURE THE NUT. THE ABSENCE OF A COTTER PIN WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE NUT TO EVENTUALLY WORK ITS WAY OFF. THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN OPERATED ABOUT 26 HRS SINCE A 1200 HR INSPECTION HAD BEEN PERFORMED. DURING THAT INSPECTION, THE ABOVE MENTIONED PARTS AND COMPONENTS HAD BEEN REMOVED, INSPECTED AND REINSTALLED.
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: airplane
- Flight time: 4,111 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,625 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 28, 1982; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.