Bell 47 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 744 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

744

All Events

391

Incidents

169

Minor

96

Serious

84

Fatal (106 fatalities)

Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
Dec 07, 1992 MONTPELIER, ID N58131 Incident substantial THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO LEAKING INTERNAL CARBURETOR SEALS, RESULTING FROM IMPROPER REPAIR OF THE CARBURETOR BY AN ACFT REPAIR STATION.
Dec 07, 1992 BELLE GLADE, FL N7925J Minor substantial
THE IMPROPER IN FLIGHT DECISION OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO ATTEMPT AN AGRICULTURAL TURN WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO ACCOMPLISH THE MANEUVER. CONTRIB…

THE IMPROPER IN FLIGHT DECISION OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO ATTEMPT AN AGRICULTURAL TURN WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO ACCOMPLISH THE MANEUVER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITIES.

Nov 04, 1992 PALM BEACH, FL N94720 Minor substantial THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM DURING THE AUTOROTATION.
Oct 31, 1992 GONZALES, CA N919SF Minor destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE WIRES.
Oct 11, 1992 EL MONTE, CA N162B Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE ROTOR RPM.
Oct 09, 1992 CENTRE, AL N31FG Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Sep 21, 1992 VOLCANO, HI N73279 Minor substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL AFTER INADVERTENTLY ENTERING A POWER SETTLING CONDITION.
Sep 16, 1992 BOONEVILLE, AR N291FW Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. FACTORS WERE FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CA…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. FACTORS WERE FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, AND THE PILOT NOT REFUELING THE HELICOPTER.

Aug 21, 1992 MARSHALL, IN N203SD Serious (1) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER DUE TO HIS ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT.
Aug 15, 1992 SLOCOMB, AL N2880B Serious (1) substantial A HARD LANDING DUE TO A POWER LOSS FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUSTABLE TERRAIN FOR THE LANDING.
Aug 12, 1992 WEST MIFFLIN, PA N2070P Incident substantial
A YAW FOR UNKNOWN REASON(S) WHICH RESULTED IN THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTING THE DIRT BANK AND A LOSS OF CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE…

A YAW FOR UNKNOWN REASON(S) WHICH RESULTED IN THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTING THE DIRT BANK AND A LOSS OF CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO OPERATE IN CLOSE VICINITY TO THE DIRK BANK.

Jul 29, 1992 ADJUNTAS, PR N8476E Fatal (4) destroyed
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL. IN ADDITION, THE P…

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT FAILED TO INSURE THAT THE ENGINE CONTAINED ADEQUATE OIL, AND THAT THE OIL DIP STICK WAS SECURE PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO MARIJUANA.

Jul 15, 1992 SOUTHWICK, MA N3109G Incident substantial IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE STABILIZER CONTROL SYSTEM BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Jul 04, 1992 MESA, AZ N4798R Minor destroyed
A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNKNOWN REASON (S). FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE 1) LOW ALTITUDE WHEN THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED 2) LOW…

A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNKNOWN REASON (S). FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE 1) LOW ALTITUDE WHEN THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED 2) LOW ROTOR RPM AS A RESULT OF THE LOSS OF POWER, AND 3) THE PILOT NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE AND ROTOR RPM.

Jun 27, 1992 DUBUQUE, IA N73952 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN BOTH DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND CLEARANCE FROM THE TRUCK.
Jun 25, 1992 CENTRE, AL N68632 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A WIRE.
Jun 21, 1992 PAGO PAGO, PO N211CB Serious (1) substantial THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION IN FAILING TO ENSURE THAT ALL SKID TIEDOWNS WERE REMOVED PRIOR TO THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF.
Jun 16, 1992 SHELBURNE FALLS, MA N1041B Fatal (3) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE OBSTACLE CLEARANCE. CONTRIBUTING WAS INADEQUATE ALTITUDE.
Jun 14, 1992 DANBURY, TX N6746D Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR SKID DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT GROUND.
Apr 30, 1992 DOUSMAN, WI N52HB Serious (1) substantial THE IN-FLIGHT LOSS OF THE SWASH PLATE DRIVE LINK BOLT WHICH ALLOWED THE SWASH PLATE DRIVE ASSEMBLY TO DISCONNECT.
Apr 02, 1992 MILTONFREEWATER, OR N7920S Incident substantial THE INADEQUATE PRELIGHT PREPARATION BY THE PILOT IN HIS FAILURE TO ENSURE THE FILLER HOSE WAS REMOVED BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF.
Apr 02, 1992 FAYETTE, MS N322A Minor substantial
THE PILOT IN COMMANDS FAILURE TO INSURE THE PROPER FUEL QUANTITY FOR THE FLIGHT WAS PLACED ON THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS FAILURE TO MONITOR FUEL QUANTITY DU…

THE PILOT IN COMMANDS FAILURE TO INSURE THE PROPER FUEL QUANTITY FOR THE FLIGHT WAS PLACED ON THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS FAILURE TO MONITOR FUEL QUANTITY DURING FLIGHT RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Mar 24, 1992 PIKEVILLE, KY N2831B Incident destroyed DELAMINATION AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF A MAIN ROTOR BLADE.
Jan 27, 1992 CROSS CITY, FL N93067 Incident substantial PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE AUTOROTATIVE LANDING.
Nov 24, 1991 TEXARKANA, TX N8134J Serious (1) substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER TERRAIN CLEARANCE DURING TAKEOFF. A FACTOR WAS HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN HELICOPTERS.
Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.
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