Bell 47G3-B accident near Houma, Louisiana, June 5, 1990
On June 5, 1990 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G3-B (helicopter), registered N73241, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houma, Louisiana. It was a personal 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM AND AN EXCESSIVE SINK RATE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1990 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Houma, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G3-B · all 47G3-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N73241 · no longer on the register · serial 2773
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING LANDED NEAR AN ALLIGATOR'S NEST, NEAR A LAKE. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE HELICOPTER FAILED TO RESPOND TO COLLECTIVE PITCH INPUTS DURING THE LANDING. HE SAID HE THEN TRIED TO MAKE A SLIDE-ON-LANDING INTO THE WATER BUT THE REAR PORTION OF THE FIXED FLOTATION GEAR IMPACTED A LEVEE, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER FORWARD, AND SETTLED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE LAKE. NO PRE-IMPACT PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 2,900 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 160 in the last 30 days; 4,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,719 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1989; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°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.