Bell 47G3-B2A accident near Montpelier, Idaho, December 7, 1992
On December 7, 1992 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Bell 47G3-B2A (helicopter), registered N58131, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montpelier, Idaho. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO LEAKING INTERNAL CARBURETOR SEALS, RESULTING FROM IMPROPER REPAIR OF THE CARBURETOR BY AN ACFT REPAIR STATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 1992 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Montpelier, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G3-B2A · all 47G3-B2As on the register
- Registration
- N58131 · no longer on the register · serial 6865
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DISCONTINUED A WILD GAME SURVEY FLIGHT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, AND INITIATED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO A ROAD NEARBY. THE ENGINE LOST POWER ON FINAL APPROACH ABOUT 50 FT. AGL AT A SLOW AIRSPEED AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED DAMAGED AND LEAKING SEALS. THE CARBURETOR HAD BEEN REPAIRED AS NEEDED BY AN ACFT REPAIR STATION ABOUT TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: 12,900 hours in all; 12,750 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 12,875 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,985 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 3, 1992; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-F1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 12°F (-11°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:57 pm from PIH, 70 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N58131 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.