Bell 47G3 accident near Marston Mills, Massachusetts, July 24, 1987
On July 24, 1987 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Bell 47G3 (helicopter), registered N6355, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marston Mills, Massachusetts (Cape Cod airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- July 24, 1987 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Marston Mills, Massachusetts · Cape Cod
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G3 · all 47G3s on the register
- Registration
- N6355 · registry record · serial 26079
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 50 FEET WHEN A LOSS OF POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. IMMEDIATELY THE PILOT SET UP FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING AND SET THE HELICOPTER DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT, HOWEVER, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND HARD AND INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING DURING GLIDE POWER, NOT TKOF POWER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT FUEL WAS IN THE FUEL TANKS. NO REASON WAS FOUND THAT COULD EXPLAIN THE LOSS OF POWER TO THE ENGINE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,510 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1987; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6VS-335-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cape Cod MA at 7:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.