Bell 47G-3B-1 accident near Diamond, Oregon, September 12, 2003
On September 12, 2003 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 (helicopter), registered N48020, was substantially damaged in an accident near Diamond, Oregon. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during hover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2003 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Diamond, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B-1 · all 47G-3B-1s on the register
- Registration
- N48020 · registry record · serial 2812
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a flight for the purpose of herding horses into a trap, the helicopter was in a hover about 80 feet above ground level. The pilot reported that as he transitioned from the hover to forward flight he noted that the rotor rpm was decaying and the engine rpm increased rapidly. The pilot entered into an autorotation with a rapid descent. The helicopter landed hard, collapsing the main landing skids and the main rotor blades contacted and severed the tail boom. The helicopter came to rest with the engine still running. A wrangler assisted the pilot in turning off the magnetos. Several individuals in the area reported hearing the engine sound go from a normal sound to a high pitch just prior to the collision. An individual who was video taping the activity also captured the sound of the engine go to a high pitch just prior to the sound of the collision. After wreckage recovery, the engine, transmission, clutch and freewheeling systems were inspected and no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 22,468 hours in all; 11,280 in this make and model; 141 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 22,468 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 26, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,481 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 2003; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO 435B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Diamond OR at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from BNO, 38 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N48020 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.