Bell 206-B3 N2047R

Summary

On 23 January 1997 at about 12:51 local time, a Bell 206-B3 registered N2047R, operated by Air Center Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 January 1997 at 12:51

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 206-B3

Registration

N2047R

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Air Center Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97FA070

4 people died.

The pilot's incapacitation by carbon monoxide from undetermined sources which led to his diminished ability to see and avoid a radio tower.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses observed the helicopter flying from north to south and collide with a 253-foot agl radio tower at about the 235-foot level. The main rotor blades partially separated and the helicopter descended uncontrolled to ground impact. The radio tower was depicted on aviation charts and was marked by an operational strobe light. The pilot had many years of operational experience in the area. Postmortem examination of the pilot showed he suffered from moderate chronic pulmonary emphysema and that he had a carbon monoxide level in the blood of about 26%. The pilot was reported to smoke about 1 pack of cigarettes daily. The 3 passengers did not have carbon monoxide in their blood. The source of the carbon monoxide level in the pilot could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.