Bell 47G-2 accident near Slidell, Louisiana, July 22, 1991
On July 22, 1991 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N312SH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Slidell, Louisiana (Slidell airport). 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 PILOT PERFORMING A TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE THE SOFT TERRAIN AND THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FAA INSPECTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1991 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Slidell, Louisiana · Slidell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N312SH · registry record · serial 1375
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT INITIATED THE AUTOROTATION AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AND 60 KNOTS. THE PILOT AND THE FAA CHECK AIRMAN STATED THE MAIN ROTOR RPM WAS IN THE 'LOW GREEN' RANGE. A PARTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL WAS EXPERIENCED IN THE FLARE RESULTING IN THE RIGHT SKID SINKING SEVERAL INCHES INTO THE WET GRASSY TERRIN. THE HELICOPTER SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET, COMING TO REST IN A NOSE-LOW LEFT BANK ATTITUDE. THE MAIN ROTORS STRUCK THE TAILBOOM, SEVERING IT. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD INFORMED THE CHECK AIRMAN THE GRASS WAS WET. THE AUTOROTATION TO TOUCHDOWN WAS NOT A REQUIRED MANEUVER, NOR WAS IT PROHIBITED. THE CHECK AIRMAN DID NOT INTERVENE DURING THE CONDUCT OF THE AUTOROTATION.
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: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,230 hours in all; 397 in this make and model; 112 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 3,044 as pilot in command; 1,417 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sunrise Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.