Bell 47 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 744 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1991 | KOSRAE, USA | N7162R | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER RESULTING IN A TIEDOWN STRAP NOT BEING REMOVED FROM THE RIGHT SKID AND SUBSEQUE…THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER RESULTING IN A TIEDOWN STRAP NOT BEING REMOVED FROM THE RIGHT SKID AND SUBSEQUENT ROLL OVER ON TAKEOFF. |
| Oct 28, 1991 | ROME, GA | N925V | Incident | substantial | THE FAILURE OF A TAIL ROTOR BLADE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. |
| Oct 13, 1991 | LA BELLE, FL | N1201W | Incident | substantial |
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER AFT APPLICATION OF CYCLIC CONTROL DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, RESULTING IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES …THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER AFT APPLICATION OF CYCLIC CONTROL DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, RESULTING IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDING WITH THE TAIL BOOM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IN FLIGHT FAILURE OF THE OUTER BEARING OF THE LOWER GEARCASE INPUT QUILL ASSEMBLY. |
| Oct 12, 1991 | CATAWISSA, PA | N5NH | Minor | substantial |
PILOT FACTOR IN THAT THE PILOT USED POOR JUDGEMENT AND LOADED MORE PASSENGERS THAN WERE SEATS ON THE HELICOPTER THIS RESULTED IN CONTROL INTERFERENCE …PILOT FACTOR IN THAT THE PILOT USED POOR JUDGEMENT AND LOADED MORE PASSENGERS THAN WERE SEATS ON THE HELICOPTER THIS RESULTED IN CONTROL INTERFERENCE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CHECK THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE FOR THE FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FLIGHT OUTSIDE THE FORWARD LIMITS. |
| Oct 04, 1991 | CLEWISTON, FL | N3655F | Minor | substantial | THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WHILE MANEUVERING RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH A GUY WIRE. |
| Sep 26, 1991 | PEARSALL, TX | N59424 | Minor | destroyed | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT FOR OBSTACLES DURING OPERATIONS FROM A REMOTE SITE. |
| Sep 15, 1991 | PENUELAS, PR | N1397X | Incident | substantial | INADVERTENT CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY A PASSENGER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND ROLL OVER AFTER TOUCHDOWN. |
| Sep 14, 1991 | KEAAU, HI | N6708D | Minor | substantial | THE PILOT'S LANDING HARD. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE AIRCRAFT EMITTING A VIBRATION FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE. |
| Sep 12, 1991 | MILTONFREEWATER, OR | N73865 | Minor | substantial |
PILOT FACTOR IN THAT THE PILOT FAILED TO INSURE THERE WAS ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES FOR A SAFE TAKEOFF. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILO…PILOT FACTOR IN THAT THE PILOT FAILED TO INSURE THERE WAS ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES FOR A SAFE TAKEOFF. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION. |
| Sep 10, 1991 | CHULA VISTA, CA | N2618D | Minor | substantial |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER AIRSPEED AND MISJUDGING THE LANDING FLARE ALTITUDE. THE POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON AND …THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER AIRSPEED AND MISJUDGING THE LANDING FLARE ALTITUDE. THE POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FLOAT EQUIPPED HELICOPTER WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. |
| Sep 07, 1991 | IMMOKALEE, FL | N7573 | Incident | substantial | THE IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE GROUND AND A NOSE OVER. |
| Aug 20, 1991 | KETTLEMAN CITY, CA | N4062G | Minor | substantial | A NON-MECHANICAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION BY THE PILOT'S IMPROPER CALCULATION OF THE FUEL SUPPLY AND SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING. |
| Aug 16, 1991 | WINTON, NC | N1MH | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING THE HELICOPTER. |
| Aug 11, 1991 | LAKE OZARK, MO | N61SD | Incident | substantial | FAILURE OF THE ROTORCRAFT'S TAIL BOOM IN FLIGHT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE REDUCED AIRCRAFT CONTROL AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT. |
| Aug 09, 1991 | MAPLE GROVE, MN | N73998 | Incident | substantial |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER DURING THE FORCED LANDING. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, LOSS O…THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER DURING THE FORCED LANDING. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, LOSS OF ROTOR RPM, THE ERODED COMPRESSOR BLADES, THE PILOT'S OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT AND INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT, AND THE BLOCKED SPRAY EQUIPMENT. |
| Jul 24, 1991 | PROVENCAL, LA | N3575 | Incident | substantial | FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL DRAIN VALVE. A FACTOR WAS THE INACCESSIBILITY OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR FORED LANDING. |
| Jul 22, 1991 | SLIDELL, LA | N312SH | Incident | substantial |
THE PILOT PERFORMING A TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE THE SOFT TERRAIN AND THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FAA INSPECTOR…THE PILOT PERFORMING A TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE THE SOFT TERRAIN AND THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FAA INSPECTOR. |
| Jul 04, 1991 | COLORADO SPRING, CO | N40DP | Incident | substantial |
THE PILOT ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE HELICOPTER OUTSIDE THE DESIGN OPERATING ENVELOPE. FACTORS WERE: HIGH ALTITUDE, HIGH TEMPERATURE, AND HIGH DENSIT…THE PILOT ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE HELICOPTER OUTSIDE THE DESIGN OPERATING ENVELOPE. FACTORS WERE: HIGH ALTITUDE, HIGH TEMPERATURE, AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. |
| Jun 26, 1991 | GOLDENDALE, WA | N7859S | Fatal (1) | substantial | THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF FUEL SUPPLY. |
| Jun 26, 1991 | WHITE CASTLE, LA | N8460E | Incident | destroyed | THE PILOT'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT HANDLING, WHICH RESULTED IN SETTLING WITH POWER. |
| Jun 11, 1991 | LASALLE, MN | N73284 | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE TERRAIN. A RELATED FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED ALTITUDE ABOVE THE CROP. |
| Jun 05, 1991 | PEACH ORCHARD, AR | N8117 | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MAIN ROTOR RPM RESULTING IN DETERIORATED HELICOPTER PERFORMANCE. A FACTOR WAS THE TAILWIND CONDITION. |
| Jun 01, 1991 | COLT, AR | N31052 | Minor | destroyed | LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. |
| May 26, 1991 | SUN, LA | N339MC | Incident | substantial | THE TOTAL LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN. |
| May 19, 1991 | MALOTT, WA | N73903 | Incident | destroyed | AN UNDETERMINED FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP CASING RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT FIRE AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. |