Bell 47G accident near Panama City, Florida, June 19, 1993
On June 19, 1993 at about 4:19 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N3628G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Panama City, Florida. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM, WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE OF THE HELICOPTER TO ATTAIN EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE FENCE & TERRAIN CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1993 · about 4:19 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3628G · no longer on the register · serial 808
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT STARTED TO TAKE OFF WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND. HE STATED THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT & THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DETERIORATE. HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF ROTOR RPM & OBSERVED A FENCE, JUST AHEAD. COLLECTIVE WAS INCREASED TO CLEAR THE OBSTACLE, THEN A RUN-ON LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED. THE RIGHT FRONT SKID HIT A SMALL BUSH, THEN THE HELICOPTER TURNED TO THE RIGHT & COLLIDED WITH A LARGE ROCK COVERED WITH SAND, AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE. REVIEW OF WEATHER INFORMATION REVEALED NO RECORD OF TURBULENCE, DOWNDRAFTS, GUSTS, OR WINDSHEAR.
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: 1,700 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 6:18 am
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:46 pm from PFN, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.