Bell 47G-2 accident near Brookville, New York, May 15, 1982
On May 15, 1982 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N911X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brookville, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1982 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Brookville, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N911X · no longer on the register · serial 2511
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE RETURNING TO THE HELIPORT, THE PILOT NOTICED A DECAY IN THE ENGINE AND ROTOR RPM'S. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD. DURING LANDING, THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE WENT TO THE RED LINE WHILE THE RPM DECAYED. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN SOFTLY, BUT WITH ABOUT 10 MPH FORWARD SPEED. IT ROLLED FORWARD AND TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE SKIDS DUG INTO THE SOFT GROUND. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE NO. 6 CYLINDER HAD A LOW COMPRESSION READINGOF 5/80 WITH BLOW-BY EVIDENT INTO THE INTAKE SYSTEM. WHEN THE CYLINDER WAS REMOVED, THE INTAKE VALVE WAS FOUND NOT TO BE SEATING PROPERLY. NO OTHER MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT OF THE ENGINE OR ENGINE CONTROLS WAS NOTED.
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: 192 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 106 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,642 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VIO-435-A1E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Island Helicopter, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 4N6 Garden City NY at 3:55 pm
- Destination: 4N6 Garden City NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 172°F (78°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.