Bell 47 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 744 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2015 | Ivanhoe, CA | N4774S | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line while maneuvering at low altitude. |
| Aug 12, 2014 | MANSFIELD, IL | N7089J | Fatal (1) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-altitude flight in gusting wind conditions following his use of a sedating medic…The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-altitude flight in gusting wind conditions following his use of a sedating medication. |
| Aug 10, 2014 | Jeanerette, LA | N4690 | Fatal (1) | destroyed | The pilot’s improper decision to operate an unairworthy helicopter, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain. |
| Jul 18, 2014 | Merced, CA | N47DT | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot's failure to adequately monitor the environment to maintain clearance from the power pole guide wire during low level maneuvering. |
| Jul 11, 2014 | Kingston, WA | N88771 | Minor | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing approach, which resulted in an excessive descent angle and settling with power. |
| Jul 03, 2014 | Gaston, OR | N684PC | Incident | substantial | The pilot's inability to maintain control of the helicopter as a result of a hydraulic hose becoming entangled around the right skid. |
| May 18, 2014 | Bakersfield, CA | N16414 | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after the helicopter's skid catching on the side of a trailer during takeoff, which resulted in a dyn…The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after the helicopter's skid catching on the side of a trailer during takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. |
| May 03, 2014 | El Monte, CA | N7895B | Minor | substantial | A partial loss of engine power during climbout due to a malfunctioning magneto and spark plugs. |
| Mar 30, 2014 | Oglesby, TX | N147WT | Incident | substantial |
Maintenance personnel’s failure to safety wire the throttle control adapter per maintenance instructions when the carburetor was replaced and to detec…Maintenance personnel’s failure to safety wire the throttle control adapter per maintenance instructions when the carburetor was replaced and to detect that the adapter was not safety wired during the annual inspection, which resulted in the throttle control disconnecting and subsequent loss of engine control. |
| Feb 18, 2014 | Greenfield, CA | N715BH | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power pole during low-altitude maneuvering flight. |
| Jan 21, 2014 | Pell City, AL | N93067 | Minor | substantial |
The pilot’s use of an improper clutch engagement procedure, which resulted in clutch glazing, slippage, and, ultimately, the in-flight disengagement o…The pilot’s use of an improper clutch engagement procedure, which resulted in clutch glazing, slippage, and, ultimately, the in-flight disengagement of the clutch and a loss of rotor rpm. Contributing to the accident were the installation of a light-weight clutch assembly and a higher horsepower engine, both of which increased the tendency for clutch slippage, and inadequate inspection of the clutch assembly. |
| Sep 11, 2013 | King City, CA | N7836S | Incident | substantial |
The failure of the helicopter’s center frame tube due to a fatigue crack and corrosion originating from a welded surface. Contributing to the accident…The failure of the helicopter’s center frame tube due to a fatigue crack and corrosion originating from a welded surface. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the helicopter during its most recent 100-hour inspection. |
| Aug 06, 2013 | Vinton, IA | N83702 | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's operation of the helicopter at high gross weight and high density altitude while still in ground effect, which reduced the efficiency of t…The pilot's operation of the helicopter at high gross weight and high density altitude while still in ground effect, which reduced the efficiency of the rotor system and the amount of lift produced, which resulted in a collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to continue the flight after the first indication of reduced performance. |
| Jul 06, 2013 | Plover, WI | N7924S | Minor | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain proper engine rpm, which resulted in a high rate of descent and ground impact. |
| Jun 28, 2013 | Lake Ozark, MO | N78900 | Incident | substantial |
The improper rebuild and maintenance of the helicopter and inadequate subsequent inspections, which resulted in undetected fuel contamination and a su…The improper rebuild and maintenance of the helicopter and inadequate subsequent inspections, which resulted in undetected fuel contamination and a subsequent total loss of engine power during cruise flight. |
| Jun 19, 2013 | Maplewood, MN | N5024N | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
The loss of helicopter control for reasons that could not be determined because an examination of the helicopter and its systems revealed no malfuncti…The loss of helicopter control for reasons that could not be determined because an examination of the helicopter and its systems revealed no malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. |
| Jan 03, 2013 | Five Points, CA | N14841 | Minor | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with a telephone pole during a low-level maneuver. |
| Dec 01, 2012 | Walkerville, MI | N3755Z | Fatal (1) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude while maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's dec…The pilot's failure to maintain altitude while maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude, which did not provide enough margin to recover from the descent. |
| Aug 14, 2012 | Flandreau, SD | N444EH | Incident | substantial | A malfunction of the helicopter’s throttle system, which resulted in a loss of engine power during cruise flight. |
| Jul 27, 2012 | Austin, IN | N652HA | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot did not maintain clearance from terrain during a low-level aerial application flight and lost control of the helicopter. |
| Jul 09, 2012 | Treynor, IA | N2919W | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. |
| Nov 08, 2011 | San Diego, CA | N4251A | Incident | substantial |
The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot during a simulated autorotation and the pilots’ failure to use carburetor heat whi…The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot during a simulated autorotation and the pilots’ failure to use carburetor heat while operating at reduced engine power while in carburetor icing conditions, which resulted in a loss of engine power. |
| Sep 27, 2011 | Ahwahnee, CA | N9158R | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm during the landing approach, which resulted in a loss of control. |
| Aug 21, 2011 | Los Banos, CA | N948DS | Minor | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power poles while maneuvering during low-altitude operations. |
| Aug 14, 2011 | Los Banos, CA | N475AL | Incident | substantial |
The pilot’s inadequate preflight, and contamination of both the engine compressor section and the main rotor blades, which resulted in reduced perform…The pilot’s inadequate preflight, and contamination of both the engine compressor section and the main rotor blades, which resulted in reduced performance of the engine and rotor system. |