Amateur-built 47G2 accident near Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, February 28, 1993
On February 28, 1993 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built 47G2 (helicopter), registered N37870, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FLIGHT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1993 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 47G2
- Registration
- N37870 · no longer on the register · serial 47-1965-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT REPORTED THAT DURING CRUISE FLT, HE NOTED A STRONG VIBRATION FROM THE HELICOPTER AND A TENDENCY FOR THE HELICOPTER TO GO TO THE RIGHT. HE EXECUTED A 180-DEGREE TURN AND WHILE DESCENDING FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO A CONCRETE PAD, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE HELICOPTER THEN DESCENDED, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND, AND ROLLED ONTO ITS RT SIDE. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASON FOR THE REPORTED VIBRATION OR YAWING TENDENCY. ACCORDING TO AN FAA INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE HELICOPTER AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, AN OPEN FIELD WAS ADJACENT TO THE CONCRETE PAD AND A PASSENGER WAS IN THE HELICOPTER WHEN IT CRASHED.
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: student
- Flight time: 107 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 719 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1992; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Carolina PR at 8:45 pm
- Destination: X95 Fajardo PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from SJU, 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 N37870 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.