Bell 47G-4 accident near Pine, Colorado, June 19, 1984
On June 19, 1984 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G-4 (helicopter), registered N73276, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pine, Colorado. 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
- June 19, 1984 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pine, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-4 · all 47G-4s on the register
- Registration
- N73276 · registry record · serial 3135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS FORCED TO LAND AFTER APRX 15 MINUTES FLT TIME WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PLT AUTOROTATED INTO AN OPEN FIELD.ACCORDING TO THE FAA ONLY ABOUT 1 AND 1/2 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE ACFT FUEL TANKS. THE PLT SAID HE PUT TOO MUCH FAITH IN THE FUEL GAGES. THE ACFT HAS A FUEL CAPACITY OF OVER 61 GALLONS, OF WHICH ABOUT 4 GALLONS ARE UNUSABLE.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 600 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 42CO Evergreen CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.