Bell 47G-3B1 accident near Cortez, Colorado, May 7, 1988
On May 7, 1988 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B1 (helicopter), registered N8455E, was destroyed in an accident near Cortez, Colorado. 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
- May 7, 1988 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cortez, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B1 · all 47G-3B1s on the register
- Registration
- N8455E · no longer on the register · serial 2658
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID THAT HE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF AND REACHED AN ALT OF ABOUT 300 FT WHEN HIS COLLECTIVE CONTROL WENT 'LIMP'. THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A DESCENT, PARTIALLY CONTROLLED BY THE PLT USING THROTTLE AND CYCLIC CONTROL INPUTS. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN IN SOFT MUD. THE HELICOPTER ROCKED FORWARD AND THEN AFT CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO SEVER THE TAIL BOOM AND ALSO STRIKE THE GROUND. A POST ACCIDENT FIRE ERUPTED DESTROYING THE HELICOPTER. SEVERAL BROKEN PARTS WERE EXAMINED AT A LAB. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE OR CORROSION ON THE FRACTURED SURFACES.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 695 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,262 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 1988; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,860 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: Delores CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:30 pm
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.