Bell-Olympic Helicopters, Inc. 47G2 accident near Toledo, Ohio, July 31, 1984
On July 31, 1984 at about 3:48 pm local time, a Bell-Olympic Helicopters, Inc. 47G2, registered N85341, was destroyed in an accident near Toledo, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- July 31, 1984 · about 3:48 pm local time
- Place
- Toledo, Ohio
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell-Olympic Helicopters, Inc. 47G2
- Registration
- N85341 · no longer on the register · serial OLYMPIC-02
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED TO PHOTOGRAPH AN OFFICE BUILDING. THE PHOTOGRAPHER STATED THAT AFTER EACH FLT OF ABOUT 10 MIN, THE PLT FLEW THE HELICOPTER TO THE LEFT & CENTER OF THE LANDING PAD, A FEW FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THEN MOVED THE ACFT SIDEWAYS TO THE CENTER OF THE PAD & SETTLED TO A LANDING. AT THE END OF THE 3RD FLT, HE USED THE SAME PROCEDURE. HOWEVER, AS THE HELICOPTER WAS MOVING SIDEWAYS, THE LEFT SKID STRUCK THE GROUND 3 TIMES A FEW FEET APART, THEN THE RIGHT SKID HIT THE GROUND & COLLAPSED. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE & WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE BURNING CRAFT, BUT THE PLT DIED APRX 2 WKS LATER FROM BURNS. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. OTHER PLTS WHO FLEW THIS HELICOPTER STATED THAT IF THE CYCLIC CONTROL WAS BUMPED WITH THE ACFT CLOSE TO THE GROUND, THE PLT MAY BE UNABLE TO ADJUST QUICKLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT GROUND CONTACT.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 6, 1983; 385 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.