Bell 47G-2 accident near Panama City Bch, Florida, April 10, 1985
On April 10, 1985 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N54522, was substantially damaged in an accident near Panama City Bch, Florida. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 10, 1985 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City Bch, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N54522 · no longer on the register · serial 1375
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CARRYING TWO PAYING PASSENGERS FOR A SIGHTSEEING RIDE AND HAD TAKEN OFF TWO MINUTES EARLIER FROM A HELICOPTER PAD AT THE BEACH. HE STATED THAT HE FELT THE ENGINE SPUTTER, THE CYCLIC STICK SHAKE, LESS THAN 10 SECONDS LATER THE ACFT HIT THE WATER IN LEVEL ATTITUDE WITH A VERY HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. HE HAD COMPLETED 14 FLIGHTS AND THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUN FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES SINCE HE TOPPED-OFF THE TANKS THE NIGHT BEFORE. HE EXPRESSED DOUBTS ABOUT THE ACCURACY OF THE FUEL QUANTITY GAGE. HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE TANKS THAT MORNING. HE DID NOT POSSESS A PILOT'S CERTIFICATE.
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: 2,336 hours in all; 2,336 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2,297 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,666 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 9, 1985; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from PFN, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.