Bell 47G-2 accident near Big Bear City, California, August 12, 1985
On August 12, 1985 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N2899B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Bear City, California. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1985 · about 2:00 pm local time · cases in 1985
- Place
- Big Bear City, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N2899B · registry record · serial 1999
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON AUGUST 12, 1985, A BELL 47G2 HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A YUCCA TREE AND ROLLED OVER DURING A LANDING NEAR BIG BEAR CITY, CA. THE ACFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PLT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS A AERIAL OBSERVATION AT AN ELEVATION OF 7500 FEET, BUT THIS WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED BECAUSE OF THE DENSITY ALTITUDE. THE PLT DESCENDED TO 4500 FEET TO DROP OFF ONE PASSENGER IN ORDER TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD. DURING HIS APPROACH TO LAND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TREE AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER. THE PLT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,709 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,574 as pilot in command; 139 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-43 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APV Apple Valley CA at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:30 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N2899B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2899B on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Bell 47 478 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Bell 3,080 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming VO-43 · as the NTSB recorded it
- Apple Valley Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,112 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N2899B 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX85LA344.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.