Bell 47G-4A accident near Wise, Virginia, September 25, 1983
On September 25, 1983 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G-4A (helicopter), registered N1400W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wise, Virginia (Lonesome Pine airport). 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
- September 25, 1983 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wise, Virginia · Lonesome Pine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-4A · all 47G-4As on the register
- Registration
- N1400W · no longer on the register · serial 7657
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HELD A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE, BUT WAS A STUDENT IN HELICOPTER FLYING. HE HAD OVER 15,000 HRS TOTAL TIME IN AIRPLANES, BUT ONLY APRX 13 HRS OF EXPERIENCE IN HELICOPTERS. ON HIS 1ST SOLO FLT IN A HELICOPTER, HE WAS MAKING APPROACHES TO A GRASSY AREA BESIDE A RWY. ON 1 APCH, HE TRANSITIONED FROM A 60 KT APPROACH TO A HOVER. THE APPROACH WAS MADE ON A HEADING OF 240 DEG IN VARIABLE WIND CONDITIONS THAT PREVAILED FROM 205 DEG AT 5 KTS. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT FLARED & STOPPED HIS FORWARD MOVEMENT AT ABOUT 4 FT AGL; HOWEVER, THE NOSE CONTINUED UP & STARTED YAWING TO THE RIGHT, THEN THE HELICOPTER TURNED APRX 270 DEG TO THE RIGHT & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PLT RECALLED SEEING AN INDICATION OF 2800 ENG RPM BEFORE HE LOST CONTROL. A CERTIFIED FLT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT 2800 RPM WAS MARGINAL FOR MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,975 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 15,751 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-B1B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNP at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 205° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°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.
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.