Bell 47G-3B1 accident near Ewell, Alabama, November 25, 1989
On November 25, 1989 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B1 (helicopter), registered N1358X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ewell, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AT LOW ALTITUDE DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN THE DEMONSTRATED AUTOROTATION SO AS TO PRECLUDE AN ACCIDENT, IN THE EVENT THAT POWER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 1989 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ewell, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B1 · all 47G-3B1s on the register
- Registration
- N1358X · no longer on the register · serial 6569
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE RATED PILOT HAD ATTEMPTED A PRACTICE 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATION. IT WAS ABORTED BY THE INSTRUCTOR BECAUSE OF IMPROPER LINE UP BY THE PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION. A SECOND AUTOROTATION WAS ATTEMPTED BY THE INSTRUCTOR TO DEMONSTRATE CORRECT PROCEDURE. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND TO AN ATTEMPTED POWER RECOVERY. HE ADDED COLLECTIVE PITCH TO AVOID TREES AND REACHED AN OPEN FIELD WITH LOW ROTOR RPM. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED HARD & WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. LATER EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCIES WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR THE REPORTED LOSS OF POWER.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,853 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 97 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 2,784 as pilot in command; 174 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,717 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-B1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 71J Ozark AL at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:22 pm from DHN, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.