Bell 206-B3 accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, January 23, 1997
On January 23, 1997 at about 12:51 pm local time, a Bell 206-B3 (helicopter), registered N2047R, was destroyed in an accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's incapacitation by carbon monoxide from undetermined sources which led to his diminished ability to see and avoid a radio tower.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 1997 · about 12:51 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206-B3 · all 206-B3s on the register
- Registration
- N2047R · no longer on the register · serial 3360
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the helicopter flying from north to south and collide with a 253-foot agl radio tower at about the 235-foot level. The main rotor blades partially separated and the helicopter descended uncontrolled to ground impact. The radio tower was depicted on aviation charts and was marked by an operational strobe light. The pilot had many years of operational experience in the area. Postmortem examination of the pilot showed he suffered from moderate chronic pulmonary emphysema and that he had a carbon monoxide level in the blood of about 26%. The pilot was reported to smoke about 1 pack of cigarettes daily. The 3 passengers did not have carbon monoxide in their blood. The source of the carbon monoxide level in the pilot could not be determined.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 7,243 hours in all; 821 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 7,101 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,030 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 15, 1997; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Center Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FL at 12:48 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from FXE, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.