Bell 47G-2 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, January 19, 1983
On January 19, 1983 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N2822B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- January 19, 1983 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N2822B · registry record · serial 1470
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER MADE A LANDING DURING WHICH THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED. THIS WAS A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT AND ACCORDINGTO THE INSTRUCTOR, A HIGH RECONNAISSANCE WAS PERFORMED BEFORE SELECTING THEIR APPROACH TO THE PINNACLE. THE PINNACLE IS A 3000 FOOT LANDING AREA UNOBSTRUCTED FOR 360 DEGREES AROUND THE PINNACLE AND IS WIDELY USED BY HELICOPTER OPERATORS FORPINNACLE PRACTICE. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE NORMALLY WOULD NOT DO PINNACLE WORK WITH A FULL LOAD OF FUEL. BECAUSE THE STUDENT WAS READY FOR A CHECKRIDE, EXCEPT FOR THE PINNACLE WORK, THE IP ELECTED TO DO IT IMMEDIATELY. HE SELECTED ANAPPROACH TO THE WEST BECAUSE HE SAID HE SAW NO BLOWING SNOW. AT 20 FEET AGL HE NOTED HIGH SINK RATE AND HE ADDED POWER AS HE TOOK CONTROL, BUT THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO SETTLE WITH POWER. THE ACFT HIT HARD IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE AND THE TAILBOOM WAS SEVERED. INVESTIGATION IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT SHOWED BLOWING SNOW WHICH INDICATED A WIND FROM THE EAST.
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; instructor: helicopter
- Flight time: 691 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,832 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 30, 1982; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:49 pm from MRI, 12 miles away
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.
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.