# NTSB ERA26LA331: Bell 47G-4A, N797WS, Alcoma, FL, September 6, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: September 6, 2026, 14:22 local (18:22 UTC)
- Place: Alcoma, FL · Wooded field
- Coordinates: 27.9005, -81.441667 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9005&lon=-81.4417&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203759
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA331
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203759/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA331

## Preliminary report

On September 5, 2026, at 1422 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47G-4A, N797WS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Alcoma, Florida. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that about 43 minutes after takeoff, he felt the helicopter momentarily yaw to the left twice. About 10 seconds later he heard a brief “metallic grinding noise,” which was followed by a loss of altitude, at which point the pilot performed a forced landing. The helicopter came to rest in trees resulting in substantial damage to the engine mounts, pitch change linkage, and tailboom. The helicopter was recovered and retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-4A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1181031), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N797WS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N797WS), registered now, S/N 7509 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-4A
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4a) (registry code 1181031) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 7509
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 6124
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wild Goose Of Plant City LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 23, 2025
- Departed: Plant City, FL
- Destination: Lake Wales, FL
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: BOW, 18 nm away
- METAR: METAR KBOW 061435Z AUTO 31005KT 10SM FEW020 30/25 A2995 RMK AO2 PWINO

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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