Bell-Kitz Kopters 47D1 accident near Chino, California, November 10, 1989
On November 10, 1989 at about 10:39 pm local time, a Bell-Kitz Kopters 47D1 (helicopter), registered N6324X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California (Chino airport). It was a personal 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
A FATIGUE FAILURE OF BOTH THE MAIN ROTOR STABILIZER BAR TUBE AND THE TIE ROD. IN ADDITION, THE TIE ROD NUT WAS LOOSE AND DID NOT CONFORM TO ENGINEERING DRAWING SPECIFICATIONS. COMPANY PERSONNEL FAILED TO DETECT THE FATIGUE CRACKS DURING DAILY INSPECTIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 1989 · about 10:39 pm local time
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell-Kitz Kopters 47D1
- Registration
- N6324X · no longer on the register · serial T-610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG THE STUDENT PILOT RPTD THAT THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THEN VIOLENTLY PITCHED UP. THE STUDENT PILOT IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION INTO A COW PASTURE. THE WRECKAGE EXAM DSCLSD THE MAIN ROTOR STABILIZER BAR SEPARATED IN FLT AND IT WAS NOT FOUND. THE ATTACH SECTION OF THE BAR REMAINED CONNECTED AT ITS ATTACH POINTS. METALLURGICAL EXAM DSCLSD THE INNER BAR AND THE TIE ROD FRACTURED IN FATIGUE WHICH HAD PROPAGATED VERY SLOWLY, AND CRACKS WOULD HAVE BEEN EVIDENT. BELL HELICOPTER HAD ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN 47-(04-2)73-1 REQUIRING DAILY INSPECTION OF THE BAR FOR CRACKS. THE TIE ROD NUT WAS A BOGUS PART AND EXCESSIVELY WORN.
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: 40 hours in all; 40 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO
- Destination: CNO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N6324X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.