Bell 47G-4A accident near Minot, North Dakota, July 30, 1985
On July 30, 1985 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Bell 47G-4A (helicopter), registered N1041B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minot, North Dakota. It was a positioning 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 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 30, 1985 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Minot, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-4A · all 47G-4As on the register
- Registration
- N1041B · no longer on the register · serial 7653
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ENGAGED BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF TO FLY THE HELICOPTER ABOUT 2-1/2 MI TO THE MINOT INTL ARPT FOR IMPOUNDMENT. DURING TAKEOFF, IT BEGAN CLIMBING, THEN THE PLT LOST CONTROL & THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED. INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED ABOUT 35 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT. DURING IMPACT, THE TAIL BOOM SEPARATED, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE DAMAGED, THE SKIDS WERE BENT & THE FRONT OF THE GLASS CANOPY WAS BROKEN. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE HAD 1100 HRS TOTAL TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF HELICOPTER, BUT HAD NOT FLOWN IN THE LAST 90 DAYS. HE HAD A RECENT MEDICAL EXAM, BUT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DID NOT ISSUE A CERTIFICATE. DURING AN EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER & A SUBSEQUENT ENG RUN, NO MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Flight time: 1,100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1983; 1,525 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-B1B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MOT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N1041B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.