Bell 47-G4A accident near Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, June 16, 1992
On June 16, 1992 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Bell 47-G4A (helicopter), registered N1041B, was destroyed in an accident near Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE OBSTACLE CLEARANCE. CONTRIBUTING WAS INADEQUATE ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1992 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47-G4A · all 47-G4As on the register
- Registration
- N1041B · no longer on the register · serial 7653
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING LOW FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALLOWING THE TWO PASSENGERS TO OBSERVE THEIR COMPANY'S FIBER OPTIC CABLES. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WAS TAKING A VIDEO OF THE CABLES DURING THE FLIGHT. THE VIDEO TAPE WAS RECOVERED FROM THE WRECKAGE AND SHOWS THE HELICOPTER IN CONTROLLED FLIGHT, AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 100 TO 150 FEET AGL. THE VIDEO TAPE SHOWS POWER LINES COMING INTO VIEW, RUNNING PERPENDICULAR TO THE FLIGHT PATH, THE SUBSEQUENT WIRE STRIKE AND THEN THE LOSS OF CONTROL PRIOR TO IMPACT INTO A RIVER THAT RAN PARALLEL TO THE FLIGHT PATH. WHEN THE WIRES CAME INTO VIEW ON THE VIDEO TAPE THE PILOT TOOK NO EVASIVE ACTION IN ORDER TO CHANGE ALTITUDE OR THE HELICOPTER'S FLIGHT PATH TO AVOID CONTACT WITH THE WIRES.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 810 hours in all; 775 in this make and model; 698 as pilot in command; 73 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,846 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 23, 1991; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540B1B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Belchertown MA
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°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.
Other NTSB records under N1041B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.