Bell 47D1 accident near Panama City Bch, Florida, August 22, 1985
On August 22, 1985 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Bell 47D1 (helicopter), registered N4253A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Panama City Bch, Florida. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- August 22, 1985 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City Bch, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D1 · all 47D1s on the register
- Registration
- N4253A · registry record · serial 100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED A FENCE AND SLID NOSE DOWN INTO A RAVINE DURING A FORCED LANDING. THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF 35 TO 40 FT AGL, A LOAD BANG WAS HEARD AND GRAY/WHITE SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION/ENG AREA. THE THROTTLE WAS ROLLED OFF AND COLLECTIVE LOWERED FOR THE FORCED LANDING. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENG REVEALED 11 SPARK PLUGS WERE MISFIRING AND THE RIGHT MAGNETO 'P' LEAD HAD SHORTED OUT ON THE ENG CASE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,010 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days; 1,890 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6VS-335A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:30 pm from TLH
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.