Bell-Carson 47G-Super C-4 accident near Wall Township, New Jersey, June 20, 2007
On June 20, 2007 at about 10:48 pm local time, a Bell-Carson 47G-Super C-4 (helicopter), registered N867Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wall Township, New Jersey (Monmouth Executive Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total failure of the number one connecting rod during approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2007 · about 10:48 pm local time
- Place
- Wall Township, New Jersey · Monmouth Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell-Carson 47G-Super C-4 · all 47G-Super C-4s on the register
- Registration
- N867Z · no longer on the register · serial C-5007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a 2-mile final approach to a runway, at 700 feet above ground level (agl), the helicopter pilot heard a loud "bang," which was followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed an autorotation to a residential area, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was manufactured in 1962, and the exact age of the engine could not be determined. The engine was last overhauled in 1990, and had accumulated about 224 hours of operation since that overhaul. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed that the number one connecting rod experienced a total failure, which also damaged the engine case.
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: 301 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 201 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,737 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2007; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-350-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLM Wall Township NJ at 10:00 pm
- Destination: BLM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 7,300 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from BLM, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.