Event CHI87LA025

1986-11-12 DETROIT, Michigan, United States Airport · DTW None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N8161K

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

BELL 47G-3B-2

Year of manufacture

1969 · 17 years old at event

TCDS

2H3 · SCOTT'S-BELL 47 INC

Engine

LYCOMING TVO-435-GIA (280 hp)

Seats / Engines

3 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19920224

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S AB222B

Registrant of record

GWS HOLDINGS LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N8161K Piper PA-34-220T None

Factual narrative

UPON LANDING AT DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE TOWER TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON RUNWAY 3C OR TAXIWAY J, AND TAXI TO BUTLER AVIATION. THE PILOT THEN TURNED ONTO WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS TAXIWAY J, BUT WAS ACTUALLY A PAVED AREA BETWEEN TAXIWAYS. WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS NOT ON A TAXIWAY, HE TOLD THE TOWER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAXI STRAIGHT AHEAD IF POSSIBLE AND HE WOULD BE ON THE TAXIWAY. AFTER MOVING FORWARD, A NUMBER OF FEET, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ENCOUNTERED AN UNMARKED TRENCH, APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT WIDE BY 15 FEET LONG AND ABOUT 4 INCHES DEEP, TEARING OFF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1986_CHI87LA025.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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