# Accident 19880805030699A: Bell 47J, Dowagiac, MI, August 5, 1988

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 5, 1988, 19:14 local time
- Place: Dowagiac, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Practice Training Manuevers
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9792° N, 86.1106° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9792&lon=-86.1106&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2838B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2838B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47J (registry code 1181102, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47J
- Reported engine: LYC VO435A1B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 740 total, 35 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI88DET05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88DET05) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880805030699A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

SELF FAMILIARZATION FLIGHT ENDED BY SETTING INTO TREES. NO PILOT OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. NO CURRENT ACFT INSPECTION

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI88DET05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88DET05), Aug 5, 1988: Bell 47J (N2838B), Dowagiac, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE TO MAINTIAN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM BY THE UNQUALIFIED PILOT.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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