On August 23, 1989, a Bell 47G (registration N955B) operated by Esteves, Arturo was involved in an aviation accident near Ponce, PR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: FAILURE OF THE AFT TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a cross-country flight, a student pilot experienced an aft tail rotor drive shaft failure at approximately 40 feet AGL. The helicopter began spinning to the right; the pilot closed the throttle, stopping the spin. Attempting to cushion the landing with collective pitch, the pilot ran out of pitch at around 10 feet, leading to a hard touchdown that damaged the tail rotor and tail boom.
Incident Overview
A student pilot was on approach to land during a cross-country flight when the aft tail rotor drive shaft (part number 47-644-187) failed at about 40 feet above ground level. The failure occurred just forward of the 90-degree gearbox.
Sequence of Events
Following the drive shaft failure, the helicopter began to spin to the right. The pilot responded by closing the throttle, which caused the spinning to stop. The pilot then pulled up on the collective to cushion the landing but ran out of collective pitch at approximately 10 feet above the ground. Subsequently, the helicopter touched down hard.
Damage
The hard landing resulted in damage to the tail rotor and tail boom.
What happened in the 23 Aug 1989 Bell 47G accident near Ponce, PR?
During a cross-country flight, a student pilot experienced an aft tail rotor drive shaft failure at approximately 40 feet AGL. The helicopter began spinning to the right; the pilot closed the throttle, stopping the spin. Attempting to cushion the landing with collective pitch, the pilot ran out of pitch at around 10…
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 23 Aug 1989 involved a Bell 47G, registration N955B, operated by Esteves, Arturo, at Ponce, PR.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…