Bell 47G2A accident near Huntsville, Alabama, March 17, 2007
On March 17, 2007 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Bell 47G2A (helicopter), registered N471KC, was destroyed in an accident near Huntsville, Alabama (Moontown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2007 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Huntsville, Alabama · Moontown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G2A · all 47G2As on the register
- Registration
- N471KC · no longer on the register · serial 2422
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he purchased a helicopter and did not register it. During a local flight he noticed a loss in rotor rpm. He executed an autorotation, landed hard into soft mud, and nosed over. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter burst into flames and was consumed by postcrash fire. A review of the purchase agreement from the seller, signed by the purchaser revealed that the helicopter was "sold as parts." Examination of the airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The examination of the engine and system components did not revealed any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction, and the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 450 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,801 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2006; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MDQ Huntsville AL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: 3M5 Huntsville AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KHSV, 5 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.
Other NTSB records under N471KC 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.