Bell 47G-3B-1 accident near Payson, Arizona, June 2, 1987
On June 2, 1987 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 (helicopter), registered N73916, was destroyed in an accident near Payson, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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 2, 1987 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B-1 · all 47G-3B-1s on the register
- Registration
- N73916 · no longer on the register · serial 2805
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BELL 47G-3B-1 COLLIDED WITH TREES AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED BY FIRE AFTER A LOSS OF POWER IN A REMOTE WILDERNESS AREA. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE WENT TO IDLE DURING FLIGHT. HE WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN ENGINE RPM BY MANIPULATION OF THE THROTTLE. THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO ENTER AUTOROTATION. THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO ENTER TREES DURING THE LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY THE FAA. THE EXAMINING INSPECTOR STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH CONTROL CONTINUITY OF THE HELICOPTERS THROTTLE LINKAGE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 1,145 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,808 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 1986; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TV0-435-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Sherrill Farms, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 2:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.