Smith WCS-222 (BELL 47G) accident near Miami, Florida, January 2, 1982
On January 2, 1982 at about 9:07 pm local time, a Smith WCS-222 (BELL 47G) (helicopter), registered N23BS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 1982 · about 9:07 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith WCS-222 (BELL 47G) WCS-222 (B
- Registration
- N23BS · no longer on the register · serial WCS 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND FIRE ERUPTED ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENGINE DRIVEN HYDRAULIC BOOST FOR THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE PILOT WAS FLYING OVER A POPULATED AREA. DURING HIS FORCED LANDING, HE WAS FORCED TO DIVERT TO A SECOND LANDING SITE WITH A CROSSWIND TO AVOID PERSONNEL AND OBSTRUCTIONS. THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 12 KNOTS. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WAS STILL BURNING IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIR CLEANER, BUT WAS EXTINGUISHED WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,011 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4,650 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,204 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin O-335-5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Miami FL at 3:15 pm
- Destination: Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 172°F (78°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.