Bell 47 accidents

The NTSB database holds 1,633 accidents and incidents involving the Bell 47, recorded between 1964 to 2026. 158 of them were fatal (10%), and 222 people died.

The deadliest year was 1966, with 22 deaths.

The phase of flight recorded most often is in flight (603 records).

Most of these records are from United States, Canada and Other-International Waters.

1,133 of these records have no coordinates in the source data, so they appear in the list below but not on the map.

1,633

Records

158

Fatal

222

Deaths

10%

Share fatal

1964 to 2026

Period

Show these on the map 500 of 1,633 have coordinates

By decade

1960s 374

1970s 593

1980s 298

1990s 182

2000s 105

2010s 68

2020s 13

Where these happened

United States 1,589 Canada 6 Other-International Waters 4 Other-Foreign Countries 4 France 2 Mexico 2

Operators involved

Petroleum Heli 37 Island Helicop 14 Campbell Air S 14 Helicopter SER 14 Anchorage Heli 12 Cascade, Helico 10

All 1,633 records by number of deaths, then by date

Date	Aircraft	Location	Operator	Outcome	Died
27 Mar 1980	Bell 47G-5A N58133	Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, United States no coordinates	-	Fatal	1
20 Sep 1979	Bell 47G N2220W	Deming, New Mexico, United States no coordinates	Yellow Bird, In	Fatal	1
6 Jul 1979	Bell 47G-5 N8593F	Jamesport, New York, United States no coordinates	Island Helicop	Fatal	1
3 Sep 1978	Bell 47G-3B N1135W	Pasadena, California, United States no coordinates	Hel.int'l	Fatal	1
15 Jul 1978	Bell 47G N1158W	Loghman, Florida, United States no coordinates	Waverly Grower	Fatal	1
17 May 1978	Bell 47G-3B N602PD	Wantagh, New York, United States no coordinates	Nassau Police	Fatal	1
7 Apr 1978	Bell 47-G N3574	Clinton, Illinois, United States no coordinates	Tigre Helicopt	Fatal	1
15 Mar 1978	Bell 47G N967B	Eola, Texas, United States no coordinates	-	Fatal	1
10 Jul 1977	Bell 47G-5A N6276N	Maricopa, Arizona, United States no coordinates	International	Fatal	1
20 May 1977	Bell 47J N6736D	Dallas, Texas, United States no coordinates	Spinks Industr	Fatal	1
22 Apr 1977	Bell 47G-4A N472FW	Hartsdale, New York, United States no coordinates	Island Helicop	Fatal	1
28 Nov 1976	Bell 47J N62883	Glen Ivy, California, United States no coordinates	United Helicop	Fatal	1
6 Nov 1976	Bell 47G-2 N6755D	Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States no coordinates	Smokey Mountai	Fatal	1
11 Jun 1976	Bell 47G-5 N7085J	Los Angeles, California, United States no coordinates	City of Los AN	Fatal	1
25 May 1976	Bell 47D-1 N117B	Birchwood, Alaska, United States no coordinates	TMB, Inc.	Fatal	1
13 Aug 1975	Bell 47G N441FD	Chicago, Illinois, United States no coordinates	Chicago Fire D	Fatal	1
2 Jul 1975	Bell 47G-2 N988B	Napa, California, United States no coordinates	North Coast HE	Fatal	1
18 Dec 1974	Bell 47J-2 N8490E	Daytona Beach, Florida, United States no coordinates	Doan Helicopte	Fatal	1
4 Nov 1974	Bell 47G-2 N5160B	Kingston, Washington, United States no coordinates	Alpine Helicop	Fatal	1
22 Aug 1974	Bell 47J-2A N37739	Point Judith, Rhode Island, United States no coordinates	Copters Unlimi	Fatal	1
23 May 1974	Bell 47G-5 N1329X	Cayucas, California, United States no coordinates	Aerial Control	Fatal	1
20 Jan 1974	Bell 47G-4A N1396X	Wapato, Washington, United States no coordinates	Helicopter SER	Fatal	1
13 Jul 1973	Bell 47G-5A N7984J	Peoria, Illinois, United States no coordinates	Helicopter CHA	Fatal	1
19 May 1973	Bell 47G-3 N8401E	Moore, Montana, United States no coordinates	Central Air SE	Fatal	1
22 Nov 1972	Bell 47G-2 N5188B	Miami, Florida, United States no coordinates	Miami Helicopt	Fatal	1
23 Sep 1972	Bell 47-G2A N73284	Selah Wash, Washington, United States no coordinates	Helicptr Serv	Fatal	1
14 Sep 1971	Bell 47D-1 N9115R	Millers Tavern, Virginia, United States no coordinates	Hellot Air, Inc	Fatal	1
31 Aug 1971	Bell 47G-4A N1319X	Port Oconner, Texas, United States no coordinates	Texas Helicopt	Fatal	1
31 Jul 1971	Bell 47-G3B N4079G	Mt Vernon, Oregon, United States no coordinates	Henderson Avia	Fatal	1
21 Jun 1971	Bell 47G-4A N7814S	New Orleans, Louisiana, United States no coordinates	Petroleum Heli	Fatal	1
17 Jun 1971	Bell 47J N6743D	Deming, New Mexico, United States no coordinates	Bell Helicopte	Fatal	1
3 Mar 1971	Bell 47G-4 N13150	Leeville, Louisiana, United States no coordinates	Petroleum Heli	Fatal	1
11 Feb 1971	Bell 47G-5 N2294W	S.francisco, California, United States no coordinates	-	Fatal	1
15 Oct 1969	Bell 47J-2 N73950	Fairbanks, Alaska, United States no coordinates	Rick Helicopte	Fatal	1
5 May 1969	Bell 47G N1273	Geneseo, New York, United States no coordinates	Rotorserv Inc	Fatal	1
25 Mar 1969	Bell 47J N2893B	Patterson, Louisiana, United States no coordinates	Petroleum Heli	Fatal	1
10 Jan 1969	Bell 47G-2 N710K	Astoria, New York, United States no coordinates	WOR Radio	Fatal	1
4 Nov 1968	Bell 47G-4A N1396X	Kenai, Alaska, United States no coordinates	Anchorage Heli	Fatal	1
15 Oct 1968	Bell 47J-2 N8438E	Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States no coordinates	Alaska Helicop	Fatal	1
2 Sep 1968	Bell 47G N10175	Merigold, Mississippi, United States no coordinates	Mullins Flying	Fatal	1
13 Aug 1968	Bell 47G-4 N3093G	Miller House, Alaska, United States no coordinates	Tundra Copters	Fatal	1
14 Jun 1968	Bell 47J-2 N73258	Rice Lake, Wisconsin, United States no coordinates	John Thomas BO	Fatal	1
6 Oct 1967	Bell 47J-2A N3073G	Cordova, Alaska, United States no coordinates	Anchorage Heli	Fatal	1
22 Aug 1967	Bell 47G-5 N8592F	Kingston, New Hampshire, United States no coordinates	Lyon Auto Leas	Fatal	1
27 Jul 1967	Bell 47G-2 N8406E	Cordova, Alaska, United States no coordinates	Anchorage HEL	Fatal	1
3 Jun 1967	Bell 47G N953B	Dearborn, Michigan, United States no coordinates	Midwest Tree A	Fatal	1
16 Oct 1966	Bell 47G-2 N2816B	Anchorage Alas, Alaska, United States no coordinates	ERA Helicoper	Fatal	1
23 Aug 1966	Bell 47G-3B N8547F	Rahgird Iran, Asia no coordinates	Teledyne Inc.	Fatal	1
15 Jul 1966	Bell 47G-2 N2820B	St.paul Minn, Minnesota, United States no coordinates	Lake Line Heli	Fatal	1
14 Jul 1966	Bell 47G-2 N7889B	Hinton W Va, West Virginia, United States no coordinates	Inland Airline	Fatal	1