Bell 47G-3B-1 accident near Troy, Texas, August 5, 2004
On August 5, 2004 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 (helicopter), registered N47713, was substantially damaged in an accident near Troy, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's improper flare, resulting in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2004 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Troy, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B-1 · all 47G-3B-1s on the register
- Registration
- N47713 · registry record · serial 2954
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 10,120-hour flight instructor was demonstrating autorotations when the helicopter landed hard and bounced back into the air, as the main rotor blades struck the tail boom. As the helicopter started to rotate, the throttle was reduced and the helicopter landed upright in a field. The flight instructor further stated the wind after the accident was from 350 degrees, approximately 10 knots. Weather reported near the time of the accident was wind from 040 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statue miles, sky condition clear, temperature 84 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.94 inches of Mercury. The density altitude was calculated by the NTSB investigator-in-charge to be 2,485 feet mean sea level.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,120 hours in all; 2,850 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 10,050 as pilot in command; 1,450 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, foreign licence
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,250 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 470 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 9, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,257.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 18, 2004; 93.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Brazos Helicopters LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Mccleannian Co. TX at 7:45 pm
- Destination: Temple TX
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.