Bell 47 accident near Fallon, Nevada, February 11, 2022
On February 11, 2022 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1959 Bell 47 (helicopter), registered N1023V, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Fallon, Nevada (Fallon Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a hover which, resulted in a collision with a hangar.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 2022 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fallon, Nevada · Fallon Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47 G2, built 1959 · all 47s on the register
- Registration
- N1023V · no longer on the register · serial 2021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter pilot reported that, while hovering in front of a hangar he erroneously increased collective pitch, panicked, and lost control of the helicopter. The helicopter subsequently impacted the top of a hanger and rolled over. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor and tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Airport structure › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 16, 2022
- Medical certificate: None (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,359 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 2021; 5.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO435A1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point -13°F (-25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from KNFL
Weather report (METAR): SA 11/03/2022 21:56-> METAR KNFL 112156Z VRB04KT 10SM SCT220 12/M25 A3036 RMK AO2 SLP239 T01221250=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 8, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Wreckage Photo | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.