# NTSB ERA26LA100: Bell 47G-3B, N347BH, Floral City, FL, January 29, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 29, 2026, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Floral City, FL · Wildlife Management Area
- Coordinates: 28.803251, -82.242317 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8033&lon=-82.2423&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 14, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202364
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202364/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202364
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA100

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s loss of helicopter control during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181026), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=1181026), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181026), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 47G-3B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181026), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a solo flight, the student pilot set up an approach to an off-airport landing area. The pilot stated that after he initiated the flare, he applied left anti-torque pedal in preparation for landing. The pilot thought that a gust of wind caught the helicopter’s tail rotor, after which he lost control of the helicopter, which subsequently impacted the terrain. The helicopter was destroyed by a postimpact fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N347BH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N347BH), registered now, S/N 2771, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3B (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b) (registry code 1181026) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TVO-435-GIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (registry code 41526, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2771
- Year built: 1962
- Engines: LYCOMING TVO-435-GIA 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2025
- Departed: PCM, Plant City, FL
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 32.8 total, 0 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: INF, 4 nm away
- METAR: METAR KINF 291755Z AUTO 36006KT 7SM CLR 16/M01 A3022 RMK AO2

## Other investigations on N347BH (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 CEN18LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA306), Aug 2, 2018: Bell 47G 3B (N347BH), Custer, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s mismanagement of rotor RPM and subsequent forced landing on uneven terrain which led to a dynamic rollover.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202364. 84.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 9.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20117362&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20pilot%20signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20022957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA100%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Pilot logbook (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 74.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20106550&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf

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.

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