Casualties unknown

1982-06-11: Bell 47G-3B (N73221) — Dare R. Williams — Douglas, WY

Douglas, WY, US

On June 11, 1982, a Bell 47G-3B (registration N73221) operated by Dare R. Williams was involved in an aviation accident near Douglas, WY. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A helicopter's main rotor blades struck a loading dock after a gust of wind caused the aircraft to drift left while the pilot maneuvered to a level position.

Incident Details

According to the pilot, a helicopter made a normal approach to a landing site near a loading dock. Upon touchdown, the helicopter was on a slope, prompting the pilot to lift the aircraft back into a hover. The pilot then began moving the helicopter approximately 4 feet forward to a more level position. During this maneuver, a gust of wind from the right caused the helicopter to drift to the left. Subsequently, the main rotor blades struck the top of the loading dock.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported that the wind was variable between 270 and 360 degrees at 5 knots, gusting to 10 knots. No other details regarding the aircraft, operator, or location were provided.

Environmental Conditions

The reported wind conditions were variable in direction and included gusts that affected the helicopter's position during the hover maneuver.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020917X03214. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.