Bell 47G-3B-1 accident near Nederland, Colorado, June 8, 2002
On June 8, 2002 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 (helicopter), registered N999DW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nederland, Colorado. 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 inadvertent in-flight encounter with severe turbulence, which resulted in main rotor-tailboom contact and the separation of the tailrotor drive shaft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2002 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nederland, Colorado · 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
- N999DW · no longer on the register · serial 6604
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to the flight in mountainous terrain, the pilot obtained a weather forecast that called for winds from the southwest at 30 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph. The flight departed and was in cruise flight at 9,000 feet (700 feet agl) with a 20-25 knot headwind and experiencing light turbulence, when the flight encountered "severe turbulence." The pilot stated that the helicopter went "up and down violently for a period of 2-3 seconds." The tailrotor drive shaft was severed by the main rotor blades, and the helicopter then experienced "a right yaw that full application of left pedal would not correct." The pilot stated that during the event the engine and rotor rpm increased past their upper limits. He was able to bring the engine and rotor rpm within limits and regained control of the helicopter. Subsequently, the pilot performed an autorotation to sloping terrain without further incident. According to a witness, who was fishing on a lake 4 miles from the accident site, he observed water spouts between 2 and 8 feet tall and high swirling winds near the time of 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 553 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 417 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 9, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,123 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 2001; 75.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-D1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Nederland CO at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.