Bell 47D1 accident near Cross City, Florida, January 27, 1992
On January 27, 1992 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Bell 47D1 (helicopter), registered N93067, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cross City, Florida. It was an other work-use 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
PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE AUTOROTATIVE LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 1992 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Cross City, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D1 · all 47D1s on the register
- Registration
- N93067 · registry record · serial 5501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE MANEUVERING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT HE PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING INTO TREES. THE HELICOPTER FELL TO THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST. EXAM OF THE ENG BY THE OPERATOR WHO HAS AN FAA ISSUED AIRFRAME & POWERPLANT CERTIFICATE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE ENG WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE FACILITY THAT OVERHAULED IT APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS EARLIER. EXAM ALSO REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE NAME & CERTIFICATE NUMBER ENTERED IN THE ENG LOGBOOK INDICATING THAT THE ENG WAS OVERHAULED WAS NOT VALID ACCORDING TO FAA PERSONNEL LOCATED IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OK.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 7,550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 21, 1992; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Avico, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from GNV, 45 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 N93067 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.