Bell 47G-3B1 accident near Gobernador, New Mexico, March 21, 1988
On March 21, 1988 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B1 (helicopter), registered N7863S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gobernador, New Mexico. 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 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
- March 21, 1988 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gobernador, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B1 · all 47G-3B1s on the register
- Registration
- N7863S · registry record · serial 6630
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERICAL PLT WAS HOVERING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AT 40 FEET AGL. DURING A MANEUVER HE REPORTED HEARING A LOUD BANG AND THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECAY. THE PLT MADE A HOVERING AUTOROTATION RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM AND SEVERED IT. A POST ACCIDENT TRANSMISSION TEAR DOWN REVEALED THAT THE LOCKING ROLLERS IN THE FREE WHEELING UNIT HAD WORN BEYOND TOLERANCE, ALLOWING THE MAIN ROTOR TO BECOME AND REMAIN DISENGAGED FROM THE TRANSMISSION.
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: 17,460 hours in all; 12,147 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,024 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 1988; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gobernador NM at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.