Bell 47G3B1 accident near Albany, Oregon, July 29, 1986
On July 29, 1986, a Bell 47G3B1 (helicopter), registered N9417A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albany, Oregon. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 29, 1986
- Place
- Albany, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G3B1 · all 47G3B1s on the register
- Registration
- N9417A · no longer on the register · serial 3808
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BELL 47G3B1 CRASHED INTO THE SOUTH SANTIAM RIVER AFTER CONTACTING POWER LINES WHILE ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THE CFI (HELICOPTER) PLT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE PRIVATE PLT (AIRPLANE) HELICOPTER STUDENT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT REPORTED HE AND THE STUDENT HAD BEEN CONDUCTING 'CONFINED AREA' LANDINGS AND HAD DEPARTED ONE AREA FOR ANOTHER. DURING THE FLT HELICOPTER WAS FLYING DOWN RIVER INTO THE SETTING SUN. THE CFI BECAME AWARE OF THE PWR LINES ABOUT 5 FEET AHEAD AND WAS UNABLE TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE CFI REPORTED THE POWER LINES WERE UNMARKED AND HIDDEN BY SUNGLARE OFF THE COCKPIT CANOPY AND SHADE FROM TREES ALONG THE RIVER BANK. THE HELICOPTER FLIPPED OVER AFTER CONTACTING THE WIRES AND FELL INTO THE RIVER. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE RIVER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 347 hours in all; 116 in this make and model; 98 in the last 90 days; 229 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 15, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S30 Lebanon OR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from EUG, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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 N9417A 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.