PANAMA CITY, FL, USA
N1159W
BELL 47G-3B-1
WHILE APPROACHING TO LAND DURING A SIGHTSEEING FLT A LOSS OF ENG PWR WAS EXPERIENCED AND AN AUTOROTATION WAS MADE 70 FT SHORT OF THE HELIPAD. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. THE PLT STATED AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE ENG CONTINUED TO OPERATE AT IDLE SPEED. POST ACCIDENT TESTS OF THE ENG TO A PWR SETTING HIGHER THAN THE PLT HAD SELECTED AT THE TIME OF FAILURE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. A CHECK OF THE CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART REVEALED THE FLIGHT WAS MADE UNDER CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO SERIOUS CARBURETOR ICING AT GLIDE PWR AND VISIBLE CARBURETOR ICING AT RATED PWR. THE PLT STATED HE DID NOT USE CARBURETOR HEAT BEFORE OR AFTER THE LOSS OF ENG PWR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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