Bell 47D1 accident near Fontana, California, January 3, 1988
On January 3, 1988 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Bell 47D1 (helicopter), registered N175K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fontana, California. 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
NONE SUBMITTED
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 1988 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Fontana, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D1 · all 47D1s on the register
- Registration
- N175K · registry record · serial 56
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE ACFT BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLED SPINNING DESCENT TO THE RIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. A TAIL ROTOR BLADE WAS FOUND TO HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE TAIL ROTOR. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE TAIL ROTOR YOKE REVEALED THAT THE YOKE FAILED DUE TO HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE.
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: student
- Flight time: 34 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,239 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 16, 1987; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V335-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:57 pm from SBD, 20 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.