Bell 47G N955B
23 August 1989 · Ponce · No injuries
Summary
On 23 August 1989 at about 16:09 local time, a Bell 47G registered N955B, operated by Esteves, Arturo, was involved in an accident near Ponce. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:09
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Ponce
- Nearest airport
- Mercedita (PSE)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G
- Registration
- N955B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Esteves, Arturo
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Borinquen → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA89LA229
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE AFT TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON AN APCH TO LAND ON A X-COUNTRY FLT, WHEN THE AFT TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT (PN: 47-644-187) FAILED AT ABOUT 40' AGL. HE RPRTD THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT, SO HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE & THE SPINNING STOPPED. HE PULLED UP ON THE COLLECTIVE TO CUSHION THE LANDING, BUT RAN OUT OF COLLECTIVE PITCH AT ABOUT 10' ABOVE THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD, DAMAGING THE TAIL ROTOR & TAIL BOOM. THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT HAD FAILED JUST FORWARD OF THE 90 DEG GEAR BOX.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug 1989 | Bell 47G-2A-1 | Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 May 1989 | Bell 47L | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | Allied Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 26 May 1989 | Bell 47D-1 | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Oct 1989 | Bell 47G | West Palm Beach, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Nov 1989 | Bell 47G/TOMCAT MK5 | Elberton, Georgia, United States | Ag-Rotor Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Oct 1989 | Bell 47G-2A-1 | Plymouth, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |