Bell 47J2A accident near Atkinson, New Hampshire, January 13, 1986
On January 13, 1986 at about 8:38 pm local time, a Bell 47J2A (helicopter), registered N888EN, was destroyed in an accident near Atkinson, New Hampshire. 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
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
- January 13, 1986 · about 8:38 pm local time
- Place
- Atkinson, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47J2A · all 47J2As on the register
- Registration
- N888EN · no longer on the register · serial 3109
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT STATED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO POSITION THE BELL 47 HELICOPTER ON A SMALL PAD. THIS PAD WAS TOO NARROW TO ACCOMMODATE THIS ACFT AND THE RIGHT SKID SLIPPED OFF THE PLATFORM. THE PILOT THEN REQUESTED HIS PASSENGER TO DEPLANE. AFTER THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO REPOSITION THE ACFT. AT A HOVER OF APPROX 3 FT, THE ACFT STARTED TO ROTATE ABOUT ITS MAST AND HYDRAULIC ASSIST ON THE CYCLIC APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN LOST.THE PILOT ALSO LOST PEDAL CONTROL. THE PILOT THEN LANDED HARD, AND EXITED THE ACFT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ACFT ERUPTED IN FLAMES AND WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. NEITHER PILOT OR PASSENGER WERE INJURED.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 630 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 1986; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming V0540B1B3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Lawrence MA at 8:05 pm
- Destination: Atkinson NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 12 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.