# NTSB MIA85LA085: Bell 47-G, N17271, Miami, FL, January 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 28, 1985, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Coordinates: 25.929464, -80.14022 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9295&lon=-80.1402&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31347
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31347/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA085

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THE HELICOPTER GAINED TOO MUCH FORWARD SPEED BECAUSE OF GUSTY WINDS WHILE HE WAS MANEUVERING THE HELICOPTER TO THE REFUELING AREA. A HARD LANDING RESULTED AS THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE HELICOPTER TO AVOID CONTACTING REFUELING EQUIPMENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N17271](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N17271-1994-04-12), registration cancelled 1994-04-12, S/N 221 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47-G
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 221
- Airframe hours: 6357
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6V335 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald C. Bomback
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 10, 1984, 80 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,500 total, 6,150 in this make and model, 7,300 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIA, 10 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850128001809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850128001809A), Jan 28, 1985: Bell 47G2, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Wind gust blew helicopter towards fuel tanks during aerial taxi. Landed when full cyclic control did not stop drift

## Other investigations on N17271 (3)

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 MIA87IA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87IA185), Jun 17, 1987: Bell 47G-2 (N17271), Miami, FL, incident, minor damage
- [NTSB MIA71FKT61](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA71FKT61), May 7, 1971: Bell 47G (N17271), Homstead, FL, destroyed
- [NTSB MIA68A0040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA68A0040), Oct 25, 1967: Bell 47G (N17271), Davie, FL, substantial damage

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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