Bell 47G5 N2294W
22 October 1990 · American Samoa · Fatal
Summary
On 22 October 1990 at about 22:00 local time, a Bell 47G5 registered N2294W, operated by Larry Z. Fishing Co. Inc., was involved in an accident near American Samoa. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- American Samoa
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G5
- Registration
- N2294W
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Larry Z. Fishing Co. Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA013
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ON ADEQUATE ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING ABOVE THE WATER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT OF A BELL 47G5 HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING FROM A SHIP AT SEA FOR THE PURPOSE OF FISH SPOTTING AND HERDING. THE HELICOPTER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HERDING FISH INTO THE DEPLOYED NET WHEN A ROTOR STRUCK A SWELL. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE WATER, ROLLED INVERTED, AND SANK.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47G5 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 1990 | Bell 47G5 | Marion, Massachusetts, United States | Plymouth Copters Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jun 1988 | Bell 47G5 | Oceano, California, United States | Sinton, Jack | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Aug 1988 | Bell 47G5 | Biddeford, Maine, United States | Maine Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 1992 | Bell 47G5 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | Red Mountain Helicopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 1993 | Bell 47G5 | Greenfield, California, United States | Soilserv, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Feb 2000 | Bell 47G5 | Riverbank, California, United States | Greenbelt Aviation | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Sep 1991 | Piper PA-60-602P | Pago Pago, American Samoa | Apollo Air P/L | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 1991 | De Havilland DHC6-300 | Nuuuli, American Samoa | Polynesian Airlines | Unknown | - |
| 17 Jun 1988 | De Havilland DHC-6-100 | Tau, American Samoa | Somoa Aviation | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Apr 1993 | Bell 47-G2 | American Samoa | San Diego Fisheries | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1984 | De Havilland DHC-6-300 | Tau, American Samoa | South Pacific Island | Fatal | 1 |
| 30 Nov 2009 | Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 | Pago Pago, American Samoa | Inter Island Airways, Inc. | No injuries | - |