Bell 47G-5 accident near Bluefield, West Virginia, September 24, 1984
On September 24, 1984 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Bell 47G-5 (helicopter), registered N1398X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bluefield, West Virginia (Mercer County airport). It was an aerial observation flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 24, 1984 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Bluefield, West Virginia · Mercer County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-5 · all 47G-5s on the register
- Registration
- N1398X · no longer on the register · serial 7844
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HOVERED THE HELICOPTER, MADE A RIGHT PEDAL TURN AND INITIATED A HOVER TAXI ACROSS A ROCKY RAVINE ADJACENT TO THE PAD. WHEN OVER THE RAVINE THE HELICOPTER SETTLED ONTO TO BOULDERS BENEATH IT. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE LOST GROUND EFFECT.
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: 5,897 hours in all; 1,742 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 5,657 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CRW Charleston WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:40 pm from BLF
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.