Bell 47G-2 accident near Moore Haven, Florida, September 4, 1985
On September 4, 1985 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N8429E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moore Haven, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- September 4, 1985 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moore Haven, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N8429E · no longer on the register · serial 2478
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE FLYING AROUND HIS PROPERTY, HE SLOWED THE HELICOPTER UP TO DESCEND AND LAND, AT APRX 40 FT ALTITUDE THE ENG LOST POWER DUE TO CARBURATOR ICE BUILDUP. HE AUTOROTATED TO A LANDING & ON TOUCHDOWN HIS RIGHT SKID CONTACTED A LARGE BOULDER AND THE MAIN ROTOR TILTED BACK AND STRUCK THE TAILBOOM. INVESTIGATION REVEALED, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING AT A TEMPERATURE AND DEWPOINT THAT IN REFERENCE TO PERFORMANCE CHARTS IS CONDUSIVE TO CARBURATOR VENTURI ICING.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,311 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 1,236 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,023 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1985; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-AIB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:30 pm from FMY, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.