Bell 47 accidents

The NTSB database holds 1,633 accidents and incidents involving the Bell 47, recorded between 1964 to 2026. 158 of them were fatal (10%), and 222 people died.

The deadliest year was 1966, with 22 deaths.

The phase of flight recorded most often is in flight (603 records).

Most of these records are from United States, Canada and Other-International Waters.

1,133 of these records have no coordinates in the source data, so they appear in the list below but not on the map.

1,633

Records

158

Fatal

222

Deaths

10%

Share fatal

1964 to 2026

Period

Show these on the map 500 of 1,633 have coordinates

By decade

1960s 374

1970s 593

1980s 298

1990s 182

2000s 105

2010s 68

2020s 13

Where these happened

United States 1,589 Canada 6 Other-International Waters 4 Other-Foreign Countries 4 Mexico 2 Europe 2

Operators involved

Petroleum Heli 37 Campbell Air S 14 Helicopter SER 14 Island Helicop 14 Anchorage Heli 12 Cascade, Helico 10

All 1,633 records by number of deaths, then by date

Date	Aircraft	Location	Operator	Outcome	Died
6 Jul 2018	Bell 47G N96195	Arlington, Indiana, United States	Central Indiana AG Services, LLC	Fatal	1
25 May 2018	Bell 47 XB-OSS	Ciudad Valles, Mexico no coordinates	-	Fatal	1
18 Sep 2017	Bell 47G TI-BGH	Llano Bonito de Pococí, Costa Rica	Heli Green of Costa Rica	Fatal	1
20 Jun 2015	Bell 47G 5 N4427F	Salinas, California, United States	Gomes Farm Air Service Inc	Fatal	1
12 Aug 2014	Bell 47G 5 N7089J	Mansfield, Illinois, United States	Reynolds Aerial Service LLC	Fatal	1
10 Aug 2014	Bell 47G 2 N4690	Jeanerette, Louisiana, United States	Penn TEX Helicopters Inc	Fatal	1
19 Jun 2013	Bell 47G-3B-1 N5024N	Maplewood, Minnesota, United States	Scotts Helicopter Services Inc	Fatal	1
1 Dec 2012	Bell 47G-2 N3755Z	Walkerville, Michigan, United States	-	Fatal	1
24 Jul 2010	Bell 47G-4A N124SH	Rochester, Minnesota, United States	Scotts Helicopter Services Inc	Fatal	1
24 Jul 2008	Bell 47G-4A N24HM	Mayville, Wisconsin, United States	Reabe Flying Service	Fatal	1
27 May 2007	Bell 47G N7763	Hayden, Alabama, United States	William Latham	Fatal	1
12 May 2007	Bell 47G N25802	Ciudad Victoria, Mexico no coordinates	-	Fatal	1
4 Aug 2004	Bell 47G-5 N232MC	Bunnell, Florida, United States	-	Fatal	1
21 Oct 2003	Bell 47G-2A-1 N73979	Balm, Florida, United States	Donn W Goodson	Fatal	1
13 Jun 2003	Bell 47-G4 N9017N	Porterville, California, United States	-	Fatal	1
25 Sep 2002	Bell 47G-2 N5193B	Edmondson, Arkansas, United States	Ag Copters Inc.	Fatal	1
25 May 2002	Bell 47G-4A N6SR	Yauco, United States	-	Fatal	1
26 Jul 2001	Bell 47G-2 N986B	Wheeler, Wisconsin, United States	-	Fatal	1
2 Apr 2000	Bell 47G-3B-1 N3377H	Stanwood, Washington, United States	Gable, Stephen, L.	Fatal	1
26 Aug 1999	Bell 47G-2 N11VH	Benton City, Washington, United States	Beightol, Steven, L.	Fatal	1
24 May 1998	Bell 47G N9954F	Bixby, Oklahoma, United States	-	Fatal	1
14 Jan 1998	Bell 47G-3B-2 N1461W	Spanish Fork, Utah, United States	-	Fatal	1
29 Oct 1996	Bell 47G-3B-1 N3098G	Fillmore, Utah, United States	Usfs	Fatal	1
26 Aug 1996	Bell 47-G4A N474GA	Guam no coordinates	Hansen Helicopters Inc.	Fatal	1
11 Aug 1996	Bell 47G-4A N9472G	Adel, Georgia, United States	-	Fatal	1
29 Jan 1996	Bell 47G-2A1 N6569H	Honiara, Solomon Islands no coordinates	-	Fatal	1
12 Jan 1996	Bell 47-G5 N1309X	Pope Valley, California, United States	-	Fatal	1
10 Jul 1995	Bell 47G-3B-1 N48316	Hammonton, New Jersey, United States no coordinates	Atlantic Blueberry Company	Fatal	1
16 Aug 1994	Bell 47-G3B N65678	Truk Island, Federated States Of Micronesia no coordinates	Hansen Helicopters	Fatal	1
16 May 1994	Bell 47G-2 N47GY	Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States	-	Fatal	1
22 Mar 1994	Bell 47G-5A N2991W	Wisconsin Rpds, Wisconsin, United States	Ruterbories, Caryl J.	Fatal	1
11 Jun 1993	Bell 47G-2A-1 N73988	Phlox, Wisconsin, United States no coordinates	Red DOG Helicopter, Inc.	Fatal	1
31 Oct 1991	Bell 47-G5A N7162R	Kosrae, United States no coordinates	DON Juan Z Fishing Co.	Fatal	1
26 Jun 1991	Bell 47G-3B1 N7859S	Goldendale, Washington, United States	Western Helicopter Services	Fatal	1
6 Nov 1989	Bell 47G/TOMCAT MK5 N73871	Elberton, Georgia, United States	Ag-Rotor Inc	Fatal	1
7 May 1988	Bell 47G-3B1 N8455E	Cortez, Colorado, United States	-	Fatal	1
13 Jan 1988	Bell 47G-2A1 XBDGH	San Diego, California, United States no coordinates	Atunera Maya SA de CV.	Fatal	1
14 May 1987	Bell 47G-2A N6786D	New Prague, Minnesota, United States	-	Fatal	1
7 Jul 1986	Bell 47G-5 N94458	Elrosa, Minnesota, United States	Dennis Claire	Fatal	1
6 May 1986	Bell 47G-5A N2996W	Agana no coordinates	-	Fatal	1
27 Oct 1985	Bell 47G-5 N7840S	Plainfield, Wisconsin, United States	-	Fatal	1
16 May 1985	Bell 47G-2 N3755J	Burlington, Michigan, United States	-	Fatal	1
17 Feb 1984	Bell 47GL N12KH	Cullman, Alabama, United States	-	Fatal	1
1 Jan 1984	Bell 47J-2 N2097	Kahuku, Hawaii, United States no coordinates	-	Fatal	1
24 Dec 1983	Bell 47G-2A-1 N124CD	Hughes, Arkansas, United States	-	Fatal	1
1 Oct 1983	Bell 47G-3B1 N1334X	Pliny, West Virginia, United States no coordinates	Beartooth Helicopters, Inc.	Fatal	1
8 Aug 1982	Bell 47G-3B-L N8529F	Kaycee, Wyoming, United States no coordinates	John C. Miller	Fatal	1
15 Jun 1982	Bell 47G-3B-1 N9276Z	Kittanning, Pennsylvania, United States no coordinates	Evergreen Helicopters, Inc.	Fatal	1
4 May 1981	Bell 47G-3B N14802	Thompson Falls, Montana, United States no coordinates	Schellinger HE	Fatal	1
16 Jul 1980	Bell 47G N16657	Calvin, Oklahoma, United States no coordinates	J L Horne	Fatal	1