Bell 47G accident near Wassaic, New York, March 19, 1987
On March 19, 1987 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N13766, was destroyed in an accident near Wassaic, New York. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- March 19, 1987 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wassaic, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N13766 · no longer on the register · serial 1228
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BELL 47G HELICOPTER WAS ON A AERIAL SURVEY OF BURIED TELEPHONE CABLE WHEN THE RED MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEPARATED FROM THE BLADE GRIPS IN FLIGHT. THE MAIN ROTOR HUB WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEPARATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND THE HELICOPTER CRASHED. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE THAT THIS ACCIDENT INVOLVED A BLADE STRIKE. EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED MAIN ROTOR BLADE DISCLOSED THAT THE BLADE HAD RECEIVED A BLADE STRIKE SOME YEARS BEFORE, WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO SERVICE. THERE WAS A LARGE GAP NEAR THE BLADE GRIPS THAT HAD BEEN FILLED WITH EPOXY. BOTH OF THESE REPAIRS WERE DETERMINED TO NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE BELL 47 MAINTENANCE AND OVERHAUL MANUAL.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,395 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 7, 1987; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V335-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B2 Northampton MA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.