Amateur-built 47G-2 accident near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, November 20, 2021
On November 20, 2021 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1969 amateur-built 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N210JB, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Lancaster, Pennsylvania (Lancaster airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to ensure a positive transfer of aircraft control, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 2021 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania · Lancaster · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 47G-2, built 1969
- Registration
- N210JB · no longer on the register · serial K992
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was to conduct hovering and pattern work maneuvers. After the completion of the flight, the student pilot was hovering and awaiting clearance to return to the ramp. The flight instructor said she was looking around to ensure the runway was clear and making a radio call, when suddenly, the helicopter pitched up. She attempted to gain control of the helicopter but was unsuccessful. The helicopter collided with the ground and rolled over. The flight instructor said she was not on the flight controls prior to the accident event. According to the student pilot, he stated that he was practicing hovering maneuvers for about an hour. He said that he was tired and transferred the controls to the flight instructor, as they waited to cross the field. The student pilot said that while they were waiting, the nose pitched up and the tailboom hit the ground. The helicopter then collided with the ground and rolled over. He said that he was not on the flight controls at the time of the accident. The helicopter was inspected by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and revealed structural damage to the airframe. No flight control anomalies were discovered that would have precluded normal operation. During the FAA interviews of the pilots, both seemed to have believed that the other was on the flight controls at the time of 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action sequence › Flight crew
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,855 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 2,116 as pilot in command; 902 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,940 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,820 as pilot in command; 112 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,156 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 2021; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-435-A1F (piston); 1,346 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNS Lancaster PA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.54 inHg
- Observation at 11:39 am from KLNS
Weather report (METAR): KLNS 201639Z 11004KT 10SM CLR 06/M03 A3054 RMK AO2 T00561028
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 22 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record FAA | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.