Bell 47G-5 N2280W
17 September 1994 · Pacific Ocean · Fatal
Summary
On 17 September 1994 at about 16:00 local time, a Bell 47G-5 registered N2280W, operated by Victor M. Reyes, was involved in an accident near Pacific Ocean. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Pacific Ocean
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-5
- Registration
- N2280W
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Victor M. Reyes
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Ship Fijo Glori → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94LA386
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
an in-flight collision with the water for undetermined reasons.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS ENGAGED IN FISH SPOTTING OPERATIONS AND FLYING OFF A KOREAN-OWNED TUNA VESSEL 'FIJO GLORIA.' THE OWNER OF FIRM WHICH OPERATES THE HELICOPTER REPORTED THAT HE SPOKE AT LENGTH WITH THE SHIP CAPTAIN AND OTHER CREW MEMBERS ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED THE SHIP ABOUT 1500 HOURS LOCAL SHIP TIME FOR A FISH SPOTTING MISSION. ROUTINE COMMUNICATIONS WERE MAINTAINED BETWEEN THE SHIP AND THE HELICOPTER UNTIL THEY CEASED ABOUT 1600 HOURS. HELICOPTERS FROM OTHER FISHING VESSELS THEN REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER HAD CRASHED INTO THE OCEAN 17 MILES FROM THE SHIP. THE PILOTS OF THE OTHER HELICOPTERS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT FLY INTO THE WATER IN A SHALLOW DESCENT. WHEN THE SHIP ARRIVED AT THE CRASH SITE, THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND UPSIDE-DOWN IN THE WATER. THE RIGHT SKID FLOAT WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER, WHILE THE LEFT FLOAT REMAINED ATTACHED. THE COCKPIT/CABIN AREA OF THE HELICOPTER WAS REPORTEDLY UNDAMAGED. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM BRITISH AUTHORITIES, THE PILOT WAS A BRITISH NATIONAL WHO WAS A FORMER ROYAL NAVY HELICOPTER PILOT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 47 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Mar 1994 | Bell 47G-5A | Wisconsin Rpds, Wisconsin, United States | Ruterbories, Caryl J. | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Aug 1994 | Bell 47 MARK-6 | Lake City, Minnesota, United States | Northland Helicopter Inc | No injuries | - |
| 18 May 1994 | Bell 47G | Sulphur, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 1994 | Bell 47G-2 | Willcox, Arizona, United States | Arizona Apple Company, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1994 | Bell 47G-3B-1 | Yuma, Arizona, United States | Sundown Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jun 1994 | Bell 47H-1 | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |