Bell 47G-2 accident near Troutdale, Oregon, April 12, 1994
On April 12, 1994 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N2865B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Troutdale, Oregon (Portland-Troutdale airport). It was an instructional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE THE DUAL STUDENT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. ANOTHER FACTOR WAS UNFAVORABLE, GUSTY WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1994 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Troutdale, Oregon · Portland-Troutdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N2865B · registry record · serial 1982
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE HOVERING IN A VARIABLE, GUSTY WIND, THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, BUT HIS REMEDIAL ACTION WAS NOT ADEQUATE TO PREVENT THE TAIL ROTOR FROM STRIKING THE GROUND.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,033 hours in all; 338 in this make and model; 94 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,013 as pilot in command; 573 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,676 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 5, 1994; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA94LA098.