Bell 47G-2 accident near Petersburg, West Virginia, July 4, 2006
On July 4, 2006 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N6738D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Petersburg, West Virginia (Grant County Airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger's inadvertent interference with the flight controls, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent impact with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2006 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Petersburg, West Virginia · Grant County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N6738D · no longer on the register · serial 2229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the helicopter climbed to about 15-20 feet during a hover, the pilot felt that "something was pushing the helicopter." Shortly thereafter, the helicopter began to descend and the rotor RPM began to decrease. The pilot initiated a precautionary landing, during which the passenger inadvertently pushed on the rudder pedals. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the helicopter rolled onto its side as it touched down.
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: 493 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 413 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,477 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Petersburg WV at 12:13 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 4:17 pm from W99, 2 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.