Bell 47G-2 accident near Bethany, Oklahoma, July 3, 1983
On July 3, 1983, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N2495B, was destroyed in an accident near Bethany, Oklahoma. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- July 3, 1983
- Place
- Bethany, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N2495B · no longer on the register · serial 1476
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES AND ROLLED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER ENGINE FAILURE. THE PLT HAD BEEN TAKINGPASSENGERS UP FOR SIGHT-SEEING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. AFTER THE LAST FLT HE AND HIS WIFE HAD DEPARTED THE CITY PARK TO FLY BACK TO THE ACFT HOME BASE. ABOUT 2 MILES LATER THE ENGINE FAILED. DUE TO STRONG WINDS THE PLT COULD NOT REACH A VACANT SCHOOL YARD AND CRASHED INTO TREES. THE ACFT ENGINE HAD A HISTORY OF OIL USE; ABOUT ONE QUART OF OIL PER HOUR. THE PLT STATED HE HAD FLOWN OVER AN HOUR SINCE CHECKING THE OIL. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE OIL TANK WAS CHECKED AND FOUND EMPTY. THE TANK WAS NOT DAMAGED AND THERE WAS NO SIGN OF LEAKAGE. THE MANNER OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF AN OIL DEPLETION FAILURE WITH SOME AREAS OF DAMAGE SHOWING SIGNS OF EXTREME OVERHEATING.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 735 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 495 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,052 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Elgin OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from PWA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.