Scotts-Bell 47, Inc. 47G-4A accident near El Tocuyo, Ve, February 9, 2011
On February 9, 2011 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Scotts-Bell 47, Inc. 47G-4A (helicopter), registered YV447A, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near El Tocuyo. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed. 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
- February 9, 2011 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- El Tocuyo, Venezuela · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Scotts-Bell 47, Inc. 47G-4A
- Registration
- YV447A · no longer on the register · serial 6721
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 9, 2011, about 1300 UTC, a Scotts-Bell 47, Inc., 47G-4A, YV-447A, collided into mountainous terrain near El Tocuyo, Venezuela. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and flight plan information is unknown for the foreign non-U.S. non commercial flight from Oswaldo Guevara Mujica Airport (SVAC), Acarigua, Venezuela. The helicopter was destroyed by impact and a postcrash fire and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. The flight originated from SVAC about 1030 UTC. While en-route for an aerial application flight, the helicopter collided with mountainous terrain for undetermined reasons. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Venezuela. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Officina de Inspectoria Aeronautica Parque Central Torre Este, Piso 34 Apartado de Correos 17587 Caracas, Venezuela Phone: 58-212-201-3828 Fax: 58-212-509-2425 This report is for informational purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained for the Government of Venezuela.
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
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-B1B3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SVAC Acarigua at 10:30 am
- Destination: SVAC Acarigua
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from SVBM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.