- Date
- December 2, 1989, 08:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Rialto, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2899BBell 47G-II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891202048799A
- Case key
- 26694
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control and subsequent overcontrol while hovering. Contributing to the accident were the gusty wind conditions and the pilot's inexperience.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot lost directional control while practicing hovers near the ground. Winds were 10 KTS gusting 20. The pilot stated she encountered turbulence during a hover turn and overcontrolled. The tail boom struck the ground, the canopy disintegrated, and the helicopter ended up on its side.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2899B
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1999
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1F, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Calif. Amer. Research Info.
- Airport
- L67 · Rialto
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 188 total · 80 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 360° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2899B · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.