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
Nov 15, 1993 MESA, WA N1181W Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE. FACTORS INCLUDE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED WHILE APPROACHING THE FLARE.
Nov 12, 1993 ATMORE, AL N3078G Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION. FACTORS WERE THE LACK OF A FILTER ON THE REFUELING PUMP WHICH WOULD PRECLUDE WATER PASSAGE, AND THE HIGH…

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION. FACTORS WERE THE LACK OF A FILTER ON THE REFUELING PUMP WHICH WOULD PRECLUDE WATER PASSAGE, AND THE HIGH TREES.
Nov 09, 1993 TOLEDO, WA N8169J Incident substantial
TRANSMISSION SHEAR BOLTS FAILED CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER TO THE ROTOR SYSTEM, AND THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DURING HIS AUTOROTATION ATTE…

TRANSMISSION SHEAR BOLTS FAILED CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER TO THE ROTOR SYSTEM, AND THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DURING HIS AUTOROTATION ATTEMPT.
Oct 25, 1993 BILLINGSLEY, AL N866Z Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER VERTICAL LIFTOFF WHICH RESULTED IN DYNAMIC ROLL-OVER AND THE MAIN ROTOR'S IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.
Jul 22, 1993 ELDERON, WI N9010C Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE HELICOPTER.
Apr 28, 1993 AQ N1437 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH.
Feb 13, 1993 BAKERSFIELD, CA N1185W Incident substantial THE CLUTCH SLIPPAGE AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO JETTISON THE LOAD.
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.
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 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 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 15, 1992 SOUTHWICK, MA N3109G Incident substantial IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE STABILIZER CONTROL SYSTEM BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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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