Bell 47G accident near Monette, Arkansas, August 17, 1998
On August 17, 1998 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N2795A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monette, Arkansas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 control. A factor was his lack of total flight experience in helicopters.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1998 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Monette, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2795A · registry record · serial 471
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was intended to be a solo training flight in the recently acquired helicopter. In a telephone interview, the 9,000 hour commercial pilot [mostly single engine airplane] reported that he lost control of the helicopter while trying to takeoff. He stated that the helicopter rolled to the right upon lift off. While he was trying to correct, the aircraft continued to roll and the main rotor blades contacted the ground. Both main rotor blades fractured and the tail boom was severed. The pilot had a total of 30 hours of flight time in helicopters and about 10 hours in this model. He possessed a valid student endorsement for helicopters. Several attempts were made to obtain NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Report. As of the date of this report, Form 6120.1/2 has not been received.
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
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,413 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from JBR, 25 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.