Bell 47D1 accident near Carrollton, Ohio, June 1, 2008
On June 1, 2008 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Bell 47D1 (helicopter), registered N74898, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Carrollton, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airframe vibration for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2008 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Carrollton, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D1 · all 47D1s on the register
- Registration
- N74898 · registry record · serial A1A1-68
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had departed the airport and had flown about 8 miles when the helicopter's cyclic began to shake violently during cruise flight. When he attempted to land, he could not get the helicopter to hover so he attempted a run-on landing. The pilot reported that the helicopter's skid caught some high grass or rough terrain and then the helicopter rolled on its side. The pilot reported that the helicopter was operating normally prior to the accident. The inspection of the helicopter revealed no preexisting anomalies.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Roll over during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,115 hours in all; 125 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,635 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2007; 47 hours since
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin O-325-5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TSO Carrollton OH at 5:15 pm
- Destination: HLG Wheeling WV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from PHD, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.