Bell 47G2-M accident near S. Sn Francisco, California, July 2, 1993
On July 2, 1993 at about 10:48 pm local time, a Bell 47G2-M (helicopter), registered N2473B, was destroyed in an accident near S. Sn Francisco, California (San Francisco Intl airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN FLIGHT INTO HIGH WINDS, TURBULENCE AND WINDSHEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1993 · about 10:48 pm local time
- Place
- S. Sn Francisco, California · San Francisco Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G2-M · all 47G2-Ms on the register
- Registration
- N2473B · registry record · serial 1450
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM A LOCAL AREA HELICOPTER PHOTO FLIGHT. WITNESSES REPORTED THE HELICOPTER PITCHED UP AND THEN NOSED OVER TO IMPACT. THE SEQUENCE WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF A RETREATING BLADE STALL. THE PREVAILING WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE EXTREMELY VARIABLE AT ABOUT 50 MPH. FROM 1530 TO 1630, 25 AIRPLANES, MOSTLY LARGE AIRLINE TRANSPORT CATEGORY AIRCRAFT, HAD EXECUTED MISSED APPROACHES AT SFO DUE TO THE SEVERE WIND SHEAR CONDITIONS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,497 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 1993; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-25A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 9:36 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 31 knots, gusting 38
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from SFO, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.