Bell 47G-2A accident near Washington, Iowa, August 22, 1982
On August 22, 1982, a Bell 47G-2A (helicopter), registered N73205, was substantially damaged in an accident near Washington, Iowa (Washington Municipal airport). It was a business 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 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
- August 22, 1982
- Place
- Washington, Iowa · Washington Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2A · all 47G-2As on the register
- Registration
- N73205 · no longer on the register · serial 2695
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING AIR TAXIED TO THE REFUELING LOCATION WHEN IT CRASHED. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD LIFTED OFF AND WAS ABOUT 6 FT AGL WITH ABOUT 20 KTS FORWARD SPEED WHEN HE SUDDENLY FELT A SNAP AND THE CYCLIC WENT FULL LEFT. THE HELICOPTER BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND FLEW INTO THE GROUND. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A BOLT, PN 20-057-4-16D, USED TO SECURE THE LATERAL SERVO TO THE AIRFRAME, WAS NOT IN PLACE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE NUT WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED AFTER MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE LATERAL CYCLIC CONTROL.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days; 2,010 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,931 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Washington IA at 7:10 pm
- Destination: Washington IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.