Bell-World 47D1 accident near Wenatchee, Washington, June 29, 1992
On June 29, 1992 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Bell-World 47D1 (helicopter), registered N17301, was destroyed in an accident near Wenatchee, Washington. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CARBURETOR ICE AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS AND TREE(S).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1992 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wenatchee, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell-World 47D1
- Registration
- N17301 · registry record · serial WH5016
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TRANSITIONING FROM A HOVER TO FORWARD FLIGHT THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED DECAYING RPM AND ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE TAILBOOM IMPACTED A TREE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE SUSPECTED CARBURETOR ICING AS THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT AN ELEVATION APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET HIGHER THAN THE WENATCHEE AIRPORT WHICH LIES 5 MILES NORTHEAST. THE SURFACE WEATHER OBSERVATION AT THE AIRPORT TAKEN 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT RECORDED A 63/59 DEGREE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT WITH BROKEN/OVERCAST CEILINGS. THE BASE CEILING (BROKEN) WAS REPORTED AT 1800 FEET ABOVE THE AIRPORT ELEVATION.
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: 181 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,915 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 24, 1992; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin GV335AB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Powder River Helicopters INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Malaga WA at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from EAT, 5 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N17301 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA92LA141.