# NTSB MIA87IA185: Bell 47G-2, N17271, Miami, FL, June 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 17, 1987, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Coordinates: 25.929121, -80.139152 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9291&lon=-80.1392&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31797
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87IA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31797/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87IA185

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - fatigue (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
  - autorotation - performed

## Analysis

WHILE IN CRUISE FLT AT APRX 300 FT THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER. HE THEN AUTOROTATED & SET THE HELICOPTER DOWN WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT. INSP OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 6 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD FAILED NEAR THE WRIST PIN DUE TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER.

## 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 47G-2
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 221
- Airframe hours: 6648
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6V4 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Gold Coast Helicopter,Inc.
- Registered owner: Gold Coast Helicopter Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 24, 1987, 93 hours before
- Departed: NORTH MIAMI, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,305 total, 7,600 in this make and model, 8,135 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIA, 20 nm away

## 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 MIA85LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA085), Jan 28, 1985: Bell 47-G (N17271), Miami, FL, substantial 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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