Bell 47G-5 accident near Elrosa, Minnesota, July 7, 1986
On July 7, 1986 at about 1:12 pm local time, a Bell 47G-5 (helicopter), registered N94458, was destroyed in an accident near Elrosa, Minnesota. It was a ferry flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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
- July 7, 1986 · about 1:12 pm local time
- Place
- Elrosa, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-5 · all 47G-5s on the register
- Registration
- N94458 · no longer on the register · serial 7861RA
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS SEEN FLYING AT A LOW ALTITUDE BY WITNESSES AND APPEARED TO BE FLYING STRAIGHT AND LEVEL AND SOUNDED NORMAL. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION, 180 DEGREES FROM IT'S OBSERVED FLIGHT PATH. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACTUAL CRASH AND THE HELICOPTER, DUE TO THE TERRAIN AND SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE, WAS NOT LOCATED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,148 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 6,886 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,141 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 28, 1986; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-25A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: El Rosa MN at 1:06 pm
- Destination: Paynesville MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from AXN, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.