Bell 47J-2A accident near Marathon, Florida, May 29, 1982
On May 29, 1982 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Bell 47J-2A (helicopter), registered N73268, was destroyed in an accident near Marathon, Florida (Marathon airport). 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
- May 29, 1982 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Marathon, Florida · Marathon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47J-2A · all 47J-2As on the register
- Registration
- N73268 · no longer on the register · serial 1871
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AN INTERMITTENT VIBRATION WAS FELT DURING THE MAGNETO CHECK BEFORE TAKEOFF. DURING A SECOND MAGNETO CHECK AT HIGH POWER, THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER CAME UP, A LOUD EXPLOSIVE NOISE WAS HEARD, AND A FIRE ERUPTED NEAR THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER ABANDONED THE HELICOPTER UNINJURED, BUT IT WAS DESTROYED. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN COMPLETED. HOWEVER, AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURES. A WITNESS STATED THAT WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF, THE REAR END OF THE RIGHT SKID CAUGHT UNDER A BOARDWALK, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OR BANKED, AND THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,613 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,181 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MTH Marathon FL at 6:45 pm
- Destination: MTH Marathon FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from EYWW, 40 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.