Bell 47G-3B-1 accident near Odessa, Texas, March 21, 1987
On March 21, 1987 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 (helicopter), registered N62462, was substantially damaged in an accident near Odessa, Texas (Odessa/Schlemeyer airport). It was a public-use 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 21, 1987 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Odessa, Texas · Odessa/Schlemeyer · 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
- N62462 · no longer on the register · serial 3756
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
INVESTIGATION REVEALS THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN ON THE HEEL OF ITS SKIDS, LEFT SKID FIRST, AND AT A SLIGHTLY LOW ROTOR RPM. THE TAIL BOOM THEN MOVED UPWARD WHILE THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM, ALLOWING THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY TO FALL TO THE GROUND. FRESH MARKS WERE NOTED ON THE MAIN ROTOR HUB ASSEMBLY WHERE IT HAD BANGED AGAINST THE MAIN ROTOR DROOP STOPS.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 119 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 13, 1987; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-435-25A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E02 Odessa TX at 9:15 pm
- Destination: E02 Odessa TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from MAF, 11 miles away
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.