Bell 47G accident near New Port Richey, Florida, September 4, 1987
On September 4, 1987 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N73DB, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Port Richey, Florida (West Pasco airport). It was a personal 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
- September 4, 1987 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Port Richey, Florida · West Pasco · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N73DB · registry record · serial 1277
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS PRACTICING AN AUTOROTATIVE LNDG FOR A PLANNED CFI CHECKRIDE. DRG THE LNDG, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN ON THE AFT PORTION OF THE SKIDS, THEN PITCHED FORWARD. AS IT PITCHED FORWARD, THE PLT APPLIED FULL AFT CYCLIC & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM & SEVERED IT.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 230 hours in all; 122 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 146 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,976 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 1987; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: South Wind Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: PIE St Petersburg FL at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,000 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from PIE, 17 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 N73DB 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.