Bell 47-2A-1 accident near Dubuque, Iowa, June 27, 1992
On June 27, 1992 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Bell 47-2A-1 (helicopter), registered N73952, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dubuque, Iowa. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN BOTH DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND CLEARANCE FROM THE TRUCK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1992 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dubuque, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47-2A-1 · all 47-2A-1s on the register
- Registration
- N73952 · no longer on the register · serial 2865
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY THE HELICOPTER OFF OF A FLAT BED TRAILER WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE STATED THAT THE RIGHT REAR SKID FELT HEAVY DURING THE LIFT-OFF SO HE APPLIED LEFT CYCLIC. WHEN AIRBORNE, HE APPLIED LEFT PEDAL AND THE HELICOPTER TURNED TO THE LEFT STRIKING A PARKED PICK-UP TRUCK.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,400 hours in all; 1,117 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,290 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,648 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Badger Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.