Bell 47G-3B1 N57919
4 November 1989 · Westfield, Massachusetts, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 4 November 1989 at about 16:30 local time, a Bell 47G-3B1 registered N57919, operated by Belchertown Aviation, was involved in an accident near Westfield, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. 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 16:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Westfield, Massachusetts, United States
- Nearest airport
- Barnes Muni (BAF)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B1
- Registration
- N57919
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Belchertown Aviation
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Belchertown → Westfield
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC90LA025
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHICH RESULTED IN THE TAIL ROTOR STRIKING THE GROUND AND SEPARATING FROM THE HELICOPTER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT SAID HE WAS MAKING CLEARING TURNS WHEN HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CYCLIC CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES HAD SEPARATED AFTER CONTACTING THE GROUND. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND WITH THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM OR FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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 | - |
All 1,633 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-28-161 | Beverly, Massachusetts, United States | Beverly Flight Center, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 1989 | MBB ME 209 | Chatham, Massachusetts, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Aug 1989 | Cessna 172P | Gardner, Massachusetts, United States | Peter Erik Thomassen | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1989 | Enstrom F28A | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | TMA Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 1 Sep 1989 | Beechcraft 1900C | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 1989 | Smeesters RV-4 | North Andover, Massachusetts, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |