Bell 47G-2 accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 16, 1994
On May 16, 1994 at about 8:02 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N47GY, was destroyed in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE CONTROLS WHEN HE MANEUVERED ABRUPTLY TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH A FLOCK OF BIRDS. FACTORS WERE THE BIRDS AND THE INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE LEFT SYNCHRONIZED ELEVATOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1994 · about 8:02 pm local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N47GY · no longer on the register · serial 2207
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND SAW AN OBJECT SEPARATE FROM THE SECOND OF TWO HELICOPTERS. THIS HELICOPTER THEN IMPACTED INVERTED IN THE BACK YARD OF A RESIDENCE. THE LEFT SYNCHRONIZED ELEVATOR AND END CAP WERE FOUND 240 FEET AWAY. AN INDENTATION ON THE LEADING EDGE OF ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES MATCHED THAT OF THE END CAP. THE PILOT OF THE FIRST HELICOPTER SAID HE HAD WARNED THE SECOND PILOT OF A FLOCK OF BIRDS, AND THAT HE HAD TO BANK SHARPLY TO AVOID HITTING THEM. WHEN HE RECEIVED NO REPLY, HE TURNED AROUND BUT THE OTHER HELICOPTER WAS NOT IN SIGHT.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,919 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 3,283 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,844 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RVS Jenks OK at 7:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:23 pm from RVS, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.