Bell 47-D1 accident near Panama City Bch, Florida, May 29, 1986
On May 29, 1986 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Bell 47-D1 (helicopter), registered N10065, was substantially damaged in an accident near Panama City Bch, Florida. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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, 1986 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City Bch, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47-D1 · all 47-D1s on the register
- Registration
- N10065 · registry record · serial 830(51-14065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD INTENDED TO HOVER THE HELICOPTER AND ALLOW A 'CLOWN' TO TOUCH THE SKIDS WHILE A PHOTOGRAPHER RECORDED THE EVENT LOOKING UPWARD TO GIVE THE APPEARANCE THAT THE 'CLOWN' WAS HANGING FROM THE SKID. THE 'CLOWN' GRABBED THE LEFT REAR SKID AND THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND FULL RIGHT FORWARD CYCLIC CONTROL. THE PILOT THEN ADDED MORE POWER AND LOST PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE THEN CIRCLED OVER THE HIGHWAY AND THE HELIPORT BUILDING BEFORE CRASHING NOSE LOW INTO AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT. THE 'CLOWN' JUMPED FROM THE HELICOPTER JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT.
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: 4,400 hours in all; 1,480 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 4,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,780 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 16, 1986; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 210 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Panama City Bch FL at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 pm from PFN, 11 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.
Other NTSB records under N10065 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.