Bell 47G accident near Terry, Montana, June 25, 1988
On June 25, 1988 at about 1:55 am local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N2243W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terry, Montana. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- June 25, 1988 · about 1:55 am local time
- Place
- Terry, Montana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2243W · no longer on the register · serial 6755
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A FERRY FLIGHT FROM ALPINE, WY. TO BELFIELD, ND. THE PLT DEPARTED ALPINE AT APPROXIMATELY 0950 AND MADE SEVERAL ENROUTE STOPS TO REFUEL. THE PLT INTENDED TO LAND AT MILES CITY, MT TO REFUEL BUT HE GOT LOST AND FLEW TO TERRY, MT, LOCATED 38 MILES EAST OF MILES CITY. THE PLT STATED HE EXPERIENCED AN ENG FAILURE AND EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION. DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING THE PLT HAD TO AVOID PWR LINES, THUS LOSING ROTOR RPM. THE ACFT LANDED HARD. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED SEVERAL QUARTS OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS.
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; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 22,430 hours in all; 2,700 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 16,430 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,957 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 10, 1988; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GEY Greybull WY at 7:45 pm
- Destination: MLS Miles City MT
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 305° at 30 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N2243W 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.