Bell 47 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 744 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 25, 2018 | Ciudad Valles, MX | XB-OSS | Fatal (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Apr 05, 2018 | Libourne, FR | FGGLB | Fatal (2) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Feb 28, 2018 | Pixley, CA | N7800S | Serious (1) | substantial |
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the pilot’s failure to ensure that adequate fuel was on board for the flight.…A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the pilot’s failure to ensure that adequate fuel was on board for the flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete the flight due to impending rain. |
| Sep 18, 2017 | Llano Bonito de Pococí, CS | TI-BGH | Fatal (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Sep 17, 2017 | Salinas, CA | N3285T | Minor | substantial | The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a wire. |
| Aug 20, 2017 | St Marys, PA | N9526 | Incident | substantial | The student pilot's inadequate prefight planning and en route fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. |
| Jul 24, 2017 | Toterville, IA | N47AH | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain rotor rpm while maneuvering at low altitude with low airspeed and a tailwind. |
| Jul 06, 2017 | Big Lake, MN | N153B | Incident | substantial |
The failure of the metal core assembly within a wooden main rotor blade due to undetected corrosion and fatigue, which caused the wooden blade to sepa…The failure of the metal core assembly within a wooden main rotor blade due to undetected corrosion and fatigue, which caused the wooden blade to separate from the rotor mast. |
| Jul 30, 2016 | Oshkosh, WI | N975BH | Incident | substantial | The loosening and separation of the throttle linkage nut, which resulted in a loss of throttle control and subsequent hard landing after autorotation. |
| Jun 09, 2016 | Laureles, TX | N6203N | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's failure to apply additional engine power when he applied collective input, which led to a loss of rotor speed and the exceedance of the he…The pilot's failure to apply additional engine power when he applied collective input, which led to a loss of rotor speed and the exceedance of the helicopter’s performance capability. |
| Jun 08, 2016 | Hastings, MN | N25LB | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's failure to attain a positive rate of climb during takeoff from a service truck, which resulted in an impact with terrain and substantial d…The pilot's failure to attain a positive rate of climb during takeoff from a service truck, which resulted in an impact with terrain and substantial damage to the tail boom and fuselage. |
| May 13, 2016 | Portia, AR | N48316 | Fatal | substantial |
The pilot's decision to perform a sliding takeoff from the elevated platform, which resulted in a dynamic rollover when the right skid plate caught on…The pilot's decision to perform a sliding takeoff from the elevated platform, which resulted in a dynamic rollover when the right skid plate caught on a protruding screw. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to adequately inspect the landing platform before flight. |
| Apr 29, 2016 | San Ardo, CA | N6288N | Minor | substantial | The failure of the pin in the outboard end of the lateral flight control torque tube. |
| Apr 21, 2016 | Los Fresnos, TX | N64702 | Serious (1) | destroyed | The pilot's inability to see and avoid the power lines because of trees obscuring his view. |
| Apr 20, 2016 | Myerstown, PA | N202CH | Incident | substantial |
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would ha…A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. |
| Mar 02, 2016 | Agua Dulce, CA | N568TB | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's failure to set the appropriate collective friction prior to releasing the collective in flight, which resulted in decreased main rotor pit…The pilot's failure to set the appropriate collective friction prior to releasing the collective in flight, which resulted in decreased main rotor pitch, settling with power, and an impact with terrain. |
| Feb 13, 2016 | Carson City, NV | N1181W | Minor | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient main rotor rpm, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control and a dynamic rollover. |
| Oct 18, 2015 | Searchlight, NV | N73224 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a tree during hover flight. |
| Oct 05, 2015 | Huntsville, TX | N160CS | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's loss of helicopter control during an agricultural application pass for reasons that could not be determined due to the extent of damage to…The pilot's loss of helicopter control during an agricultural application pass for reasons that could not be determined due to the extent of damage to the flight control system. |
| Aug 11, 2015 | Clanton, AL | N74823 | Incident | substantial |
The student pilot's abrupt cyclic and collective inputs during the approach to land which resulted in abnormal runway contact and a subsequent tail bo…The student pilot's abrupt cyclic and collective inputs during the approach to land which resulted in abnormal runway contact and a subsequent tail boom strike by the main rotor blades. |
| Aug 03, 2015 | Camden, AL | N4002G | Incident | substantial |
A failure of the helicopter's hydraulic flight control systems for reasons that could not be determined due to the fire damage, and the pilot's inabil…A failure of the helicopter's hydraulic flight control systems for reasons that could not be determined due to the fire damage, and the pilot's inability to turn off the hydraulic system to relieve control pressure. |
| Jul 25, 2015 | De Queen, AR | N1420W | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's failure to conduct helicopter performance planning, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with a truck and terrain during t…The pilot's failure to conduct helicopter performance planning, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with a truck and terrain during takeoff from an elevated platform. |
| Jul 24, 2015 | Gilbert, IA | N1396X | Incident | substantial |
The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because the available fuel shifted within the tanks due to an abrupt nose-low maneuver to avoid …The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because the available fuel shifted within the tanks due to an abrupt nose-low maneuver to avoid an obstacle, which resulted in a hard forced landing. |
| Jun 20, 2015 | Salinas, CA | N4427F | Fatal (1) | substantial |
The non-instrument-rated pilot's visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation an…The non-instrument-rated pilot's visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and loss of helicopter control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment by high-dose opioid use. |
| May 28, 2015 | Fort Pierre, SD | N112SH | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning that resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and the pilot's failure to mainta…The pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning that resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and the pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the subsequent autorotation landing. |