Bell 47G-2 accident near Zillah, Washington, June 24, 1995
On June 24, 1995, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N1968H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Zillah, Washington. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO PERFORM ADEQUATE INSPECTIONS OF THE HELICOPTER, AND THE FAILURE OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL ROD DUE TO CORROSION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1995
- Place
- Zillah, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N1968H · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING THE HELICOPTER ABOUT 50 FT AGL WHEN HE SUDDENLY LOST LATERAL CYCLIC CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO ROLL LEFT DESPITE THE PILOT'S EFFORTS TO CORRECT. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED TREES AND THE HELICOPTER CARTWHEELED INTO THE GROUND. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A PORTION OF THE LEFT CYCLIC CONTROL ROD HAD FAILED. FURTHER METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. AN EXAMINATION OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE HELICOPTER HAD NOT RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION IN OVER TWO YEARS.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 468 hours in all; 369 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 389 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,604 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1993; 159 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Buena WA at 11:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from YKM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.