Bell 47G-2A1 accident near San Diego, California, January 13, 1988
On January 13, 1988, a Bell 47G-2A1 (helicopter), registered XBDGH, was destroyed in an accident near San Diego, California. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
PILOTS COMPLACENCY IN PERFORMING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. HIS FAILURE TO DISCONNECT THE TWO TIE DOWNS STRAPS ATTACHED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER RESULTED THE ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 13, 1988
- Place
- San Diego, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2A1 · all 47G-2A1s on the register
- Registration
- XBDGH · no longer on the register · serial 2818
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS PARKED AND TIED DOWN ON A HELIPAD ON BOARD A SHIP THAT WAS DOCKED. THE PILOT/MECHANIC FAILED TO RELEASE THE TWO RIGHT SIDE TIE DOWN STRAPS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO HOVER. WHEN THE HELICOPTER LIFTED FROM THE PAD IT ROLLED OVER. THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL TANKS WERE RUPTURED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE AND PROVIDED FOR THE POST CRASH FIRE. THE FIRE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE SHIP AND DESTROYED THE HELICOPTER.
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; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,024 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 8, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 20 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from SAN, 1 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.