Bell 47G accident near Llano Bonito De Pococí, Cr, September 18, 2017
On September 18, 2017 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered TIBGH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Llano Bonito De Pococí. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed. 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 18, 2017 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Llano Bonito De Pococí, Costa Rica · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G 2 · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- TIBGH · no longer on the register · serial 1459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 18, 2017, at 0720 central daylight time, a Bell 47G2 helicopter, Costa Rican registration TI-BGH, serial number 1459, impacted terrain during an aerial application flight, near Llano Bonito de Pococí, Costa Rica. The pilot was fatally injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local agricultural flight.The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Costa Rican Government and further information may be obtained from: Consejo Técnico de Aviación Civil (CETAC) Phone: (506) 2231-3280 Fax: (560) 2290-4121 Email: CTACaviacion@dgac.go.cr Webpage: www.dgac.go.cr/acerca_/cetac/ This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Costa Rican Consejo Técnico de Aviación Civil (CETAC).
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
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
Pilot
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: MRAO
- Destination: MRAO
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.