Bell 47G accident near Beaumont, Texas, March 18, 1986
On March 18, 1986 at about 1:15 am local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N2275B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beaumont, Texas (Beaumont Muni airport). It was a ferry 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 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
- March 18, 1986 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Beaumont, Texas · Beaumont Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2275B · no longer on the register · serial 1176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM AN AREA WHICH WAS PROTECTED FROM THE WIND BY A LARGE BUILDING. AFTER OBTAINING TRANSLATIONAL LIFT AND CLIMBING ABOVE THE BUILDING, A RIGHT QUARTERING TAIL WIND, WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS, WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE PILOT STATED HE LOST TRANSLATIONAL LIFT AND HIS ROTOR RPM DECAYED. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED AND UPON TOUCHDOWN THE FRONT TOE OF THE RIGHT SKID SUNK INTO THE SOFT SOIL AND HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 598 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 442 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,209 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1985; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6VS335A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BMT Beaumont TX at 1:12 am
- Destination: 37R Jennings LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,200 ft; scat at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.