Bell 47G-2 accident near Miami, Florida, June 20, 1987
On June 20, 1987 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N6772D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami, Florida (Opa Locka airport). It was an instructional 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
- June 20, 1987 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · Opa Locka · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N6772D · no longer on the register · serial 2256
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PLT STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO VIBRATE WHILE THE STUDENT PLT WAS MANEUVERING IT DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT THEN EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING AND UPON TOUCHDOWN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND. INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT THE BOLT WHICH ATTACHES ONE SIDE OF THE SWASHPLATE TO THE SCISSOR ASSY BROKE RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF PITCH CONTROL OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 2,031 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,459 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 8, 1987; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kimura International
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 8,002 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from OPF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.