# Accident 19960929045529A: Bell 47G3B1, San Juan, Puerto Rico, September 29, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 29, 1996
- Place: San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 18.4663° N, 66.1057° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Juan, PR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.4663&lon=-66.1057&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1397X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1397X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-1 (registry code 1181028, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TVO-435-GIA (registry code 41526, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA96LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA235) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960929045529A

## Narrative

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

(.4) ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1996, ABOUT 1245 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 47G-3B-1 HELICOPTER, N1397X, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE OWNER, OPERATING AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, PERSONAL FLIGHT, CRASHED IN THE VICINITY OF BORINQUEN, PUERTO RICO. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE PILOT HAD LANDED IN THE GRASS NEAR RUNWAY 8. HE TURNED LEFT TO HOVER TAXI WHICH RESULTED IN THE HELICOPTER HOVERING WITH A 20 KNOT TAIL WIND. THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVER TAXIING ABOUT 18 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND, WHEN THE LEFT FRONT LANDING SKID STRUCK THE GROUND, RESULTING IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRIKING THE GROUND. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S, FIRST SOLO FLIGHT, AS A STUDENT HELICOPTER PILOT, AFTER BEING ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHT THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR'S STATEMENT, THE PILOT STATED, "..A GUST OF WIND HIT THE HELICOPTER CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT SECTION OF THE SKID TO HIT THE GROUND AND BREAK...". THE REPORTED WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE FROM 070 DEGREES, AT 20 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS.

## 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 MIA96LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA235), Sep 29, 1996: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N1397X), Borinquen, PR, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot failed to maintain control of the aircraft while hover taxing. Factors in this accident were wind gusts and a tailwind.

## Other reports on N1397X (5)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19960926045559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960926045559A), Sep 26, 1996: Bell 47G3B1 (N1397X), Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Substantial damage. Landed in grass near runway. Began hover downwind. Left skid hit ground then rotors. First solo. Wind gust problem.
- [Accident 19910915040009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910915040009A), Sep 15, 1991: Bell 47G3B1 (N1397X), Peneulas, Puerto Rico, Substantial damage. Passenger moved copilot cyclic forward by his knee during hover after liftoff. Unable to correct, impacted. Rolled.
- [Incident 19901204060289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901204060289I), Dec 4, 1990: Bell 47G3B1 (N1397X), San Juan, Puerto Rico, Minor damage. Heavy vibration and drop in rotor RPM on precautionary landing rotor blades hit a light pole.
- [Incident 19900630041939I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900630041939I), Jun 30, 1990: Bell 47G3B1 (N1397X), Aibonito, Puerto Rico, Minor damage. Pilot stated tail rotor cut a wire on ground. Evidence shows helicoptert struck wire 18 to 20 feet above ground.
- [Accident 19830408011959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830408011959A), Apr 8, 1983: Bell 47G3B1 (N1397X), Delano, CA, Substantial damage. Helicopter hit powerlines causing substantial damage during spraying operation.

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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