Bell 47G-3B accident near Natchez, Mississippi, January 17, 1995
On January 17, 1995 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B (helicopter), registered N8462E, was destroyed in an accident near Natchez, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE HELICOPTER BY THE PILOT FOR HIS FAILURE TO SEPARATE THE DOLLY BEFORE ATTEMPTING FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 1995 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Natchez, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B · all 47G-3Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8462E · no longer on the register · serial 2634
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FAILED TO SEPARATE THE PORTABLE TRANSPORT (DOLLY) BEFORE TAKEOFF. DURING LIFTOFF, HE RECOGNIZED THAT THE DOLLY WAS SECURED AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. A POST CRASH FIRE ENSUED.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 303 hours in all; 18 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 132 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,877 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 16, 1994; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-AIA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:14 pm from HEZ, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.