Bell B47G-2 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, June 7, 1983
On June 7, 1983, a Bell B47G-2 (helicopter), registered N6140C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Campbell Airstrip airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1983
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Campbell Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell B47G-2
- Registration
- N6140C · registry record · serial 415-31
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A TAIL ROTOR STRIKE DURING A HARD LANDING WITH A DOOR OPEN. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PILOT WHO IS A COMMERCIAL PILOT WORKING ON AN ADD-ON HELICOPTER RATING, THE LEFT COCKPIT DOOR UNLATCHED AND PARTIALLY OPENED ON THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR TOUCH-AND-GO PRACTICE LANDING. SHE CONTINUED THE PATTERN AND FINAL APPROACH WITH THE DOOR UNLATCHED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. SHE EXPECTED THE DOOR TO FULLY OPEN JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN WHICH IT DID. AS THE DOOR OPENED SHE APPLIED AFT CYCLIC AND FELT THE SKIDS TOUCH DOWN HARDER THAN NORMAL. THE HELICOPTER SLID FORWARD A SHORTDISTANCE WHILE REMAINING ALIGNED WITH THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE ACFT STOPPED THE PILOT LOOKED OUT AND NOTICED THE TAIL ROTOR HAD SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER. INSPECTION OF THE DOOR LATCH SHOWED A WORN LATCH ASSEMBLY WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE PROPERLY. INSPECTION OF THE RUNWAY SURFACE REVEALED A TAILROTOR/GUARD STRIKE PRIOR TO ACFTS MAIN SKIDS TOUCHING THE GROUND.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 516 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 345 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,870 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 10, 1983; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK
- Runway 2, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N6140C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.