Bell 47G accident near Berry, Alabama, September 7, 2001
On September 7, 2001 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N6327D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berry, Alabama (Richard Arthur Field). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the main rotor system stabilizer damper control horn assembly, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and subsequent collision with a tree and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 2001 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Berry, Alabama · Richard Arthur Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N6327D · registry record · serial 828
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While maneuvering, at a low altitude, the pilot heard "a pop or a bang outside the helicopter." As the pilot started a left turn, he noticed a "mushiness" in the cyclic control, followed by a loss of left and right cyclic control. The pilot attempted to reach a clearing, but the helicopter went into an uncommanded left turn. When the pilot attempted to slow the helicopter with the collective, the helicopter tilted back to the right, impacted a small tree, touched down on its right skid first, and flipped up on its nose. Examination of the wreckage revealed "ground metal shavings" near the rotor head stabilator damper horn assembly where the control horn attach to the splined shaft.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 473 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 390 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 11, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,743 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 5, 2001; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming V0435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M95 Fayette AL at 2:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,838 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 3:17 pm from BHM, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.