Bell 47G accident near Pella, Iowa, July 10, 1985
On July 10, 1985 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N75273, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pella, Iowa. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 1985 · about 3:50 pm local time · cases in 1985
- Place
- Pella, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N75273 · registry record · serial 7
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO PROVEDE TRAINING IN AERIAL APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES FOR THE PLT/OWNER OF N75273. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS M/M AND WAS AT THE CONTROLS. HE WAS DEMONSTRATING A TURN AROUND AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN AND A RIGHT TURN WAS BEGUN. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THE BANK STEEPENED AND DESPITE HIS USE O FULL LEFT LATERAL CYLIC CONTROL THE BANK STEEPEN TO NEARLY 90 DEG. THE INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED FROM THE TOP OF THE TURN, WHICH WAS 80-100 FT AGL, IN A RT BANK AT APPROX 30 KT UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE CROP.
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: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 23,975 hours in all; 9,000 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 23,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,800 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:50 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N75273 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Bell 47 478 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Bell 3,080 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 191 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Iowa 871 since 1982 · 131 in the last ten years
- Iowa 4,514 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/MKC85LA152.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.