On July 24, 1987, a Bell 47G3 (registration N6355) operated by Cornelius M.throwbridge,iii was involved in an aviation accident near Marston Mills, MA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter lost power at about 50 feet during takeoff, leading to a hard landing and substantial damage. Investigation found fuel present but no reason for the power loss.
Incident Overview
A helicopter experienced a sudden loss of power after reaching an altitude of approximately 50 feet. The pilot immediately initiated an emergency landing and set the helicopter down. The aircraft struck the ground hard, resulting in substantial damage.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the wreckage revealed that fuel was present in the fuel tanks, ruling out fuel starvation. Weather conditions at the time were deemed conducive to carburetor icing during glide power settings, though not during takeoff power. Despite a thorough investigation, no definitive cause was identified to explain the loss of engine power.