How many accidents has the Bell 47 had?

The NTSB has recorded 744 events involving the Bell 47: 84 fatal, 96 serious, 169 minor injuries, and 391 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Bell 47 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Bell 47 has 744 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Bell 47 Safety Record

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

744

All Events

391

Incidents

169

Minor

Serious

Fatal (106 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Jun 05, 1990	HOUMA, LA	N73241	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM AND AN EXCESSIVE SINK RATE.
May 31, 1990	BECKET, MA	N39268	Incident	substantial	A POWER LOSS DUE TO OIL STARVATION, AFTER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL FAILED TO COMPLY WITH LYCOMING DIRECTIVES DURING THE ENGINE OVERHAUL. FACTORS RELATED … A POWER LOSS DUE TO OIL STARVATION, AFTER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL FAILED TO COMPLY WITH LYCOMING DIRECTIVES DURING THE ENGINE OVERHAUL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
May 21, 1990	LAKE WALES, FL	N1390X	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND A POWER LINE POLE WHILE MANEUVERING DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION … THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND A POWER LINE POLE WHILE MANEUVERING DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT.
May 14, 1990	WYNNE, AR	N41SD	Serious (1)	substantial	LANDING GEAR SKID ENTANGLED WITH A FUEL HOSE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.
May 13, 1990	BALTIMORE, MD	N4229A	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT APPLIED EXCESSIVE CYCLIC CONTROL, CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR TO FLEX AND SEVERE THE TAIL CONE.
May 04, 1990	RIVERSIDE, CA	N9FK	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAF… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Apr 26, 1990	MARION, MA	N8591F	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.
Apr 24, 1990	HICKMAN, KY	N2134	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE RESULTANT TAILWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Apr 18, 1990	OAKDALE, MN	N5120B	Serious (1)	substantial	A SLIPPING ROTOR DRIVE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY COMPANY PERSONNEL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE STATIC WIRES IN THE PATH.
Apr 14, 1990	BIXBY, OK	N2238W	Minor	destroyed	LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO UNDETERMINED MECHANICAL FAILURE.
Apr 12, 1990	HARRISBURG, AR	N4779U	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE GENERATOR, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM.
Apr 04, 1990	LA VERNE, CA	N739B	Incident	substantial	THE HELICOPTER'S ROTOR SYSTEM BEING ALLOWED TO UNDERSPEED AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE DUAL STUDENT; IMPROPER SUPERVISION BY … THE HELICOPTER'S ROTOR SYSTEM BEING ALLOWED TO UNDERSPEED AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE DUAL STUDENT; IMPROPER SUPERVISION BY THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR; AND DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHICH ALLOWED THE IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH THE RUNWAY.
Apr 02, 1990	Hillsboro, OR	N9449J	Serious (1)	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Mar 25, 1990	ROCKLEDGE, FL	N10326	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF A CONNECTING ROD.
Mar 03, 1990	MIAMI, FL	N4837	Minor	substantial	INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE LOCATION OF TREES WAS A RELATED FACTOR I… INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE LOCATION OF TREES WAS A RELATED FACTOR IN THAT THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REACH A SUITABLE LANDING AREA DURING THE AUTOROTATION.
Feb 16, 1990	REDLANDS, CA	N11HU	Incident	destroyed	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT WHEN WARRENTED BY CONDITIONS.
Jan 17, 1990	LAFAYETTE, IN	N90836	Incident	substantial	THE HELICOPTER STUDENT'S IPROPER USE OF THE COLLECTIVE PITCH LEVER DURING THE LANDING PHASE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPEREINCE, THE RELAT… THE HELICOPTER STUDENT'S IPROPER USE OF THE COLLECTIVE PITCH LEVER DURING THE LANDING PHASE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPEREINCE, THE RELATIVELY HIGH WIND, AND INADVERTENT LIFTOFF OF THE HELICOPTER WERE FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.
Dec 04, 1989	ARDMORE, OK	N2202C	Serious (1)	substantial	PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY TAIL WINDS.
Dec 02, 1989	RIALTO, CA	N2899B	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT OVERCONTROL WHILE HOVERING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND THE… THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT OVERCONTROL WHILE HOVERING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE.
Nov 25, 1989	EWELL, AL	N1358X	Serious (2)	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AT LOW ALTITUDE DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INSTRUCTOR'S … THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AT LOW ALTITUDE DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN THE DEMONSTRATED AUTOROTATION SO AS TO PRECLUDE AN ACCIDENT, IN THE EVENT THAT POWER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Nov 06, 1989	ELBERTON, GA	N73871	Fatal (1)	destroyed	A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.
Nov 04, 1989	WESTFIELD, MA	N57919	Minor	substantial	LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHICH RESULTED IN THE TAIL ROTOR STRIKING THE GROUND AND SEPARATING FROM THE HELICOPTER.
Nov 02, 1989	LOXAHATCHEE, FL	N93067	Serious (2)	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM AFTER PULLING UP FROM A SWATH RUN. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE PRESENCE OF TREES.
Nov 01, 1989	GUADALUPE, CA	N4798R	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO COLLIDE WITH A WOODEN POWER POLE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE S… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO COLLIDE WITH A WOODEN POWER POLE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SUNGLARE WHICH INHIBITED THE PILOT'S VISION.
Oct 29, 1989	PLYMOUTH, IN	N500CD	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S (CFI'S) INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.

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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Bell 47 Safety Record

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