- Date
- May 11, 1991, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Aguadilla, PR
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N955BBell 47-G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910511015429A
- Case key
- 32866
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 improper in flight planning/decision of the pilot-in-command to conduct an out-of-ground-effect hover with a right crosswind. This resulted in an in flight loss of control due to settling with power and in flight collision with terrain.
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 helicopter pilot was observed by an NTSB investigator and a U.S. Coast guard pilot to conduct an out-of-ground-effect hover with a right crosswind in the vicinity of a previous crash site. The helicopter was observed to move backwards while descending with a slow left turn. The engine RPM was heard to increase as the helicopter descended and collided with the terrain. The helicopter was destroyed by fire. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The pilot stated in an interview that he encountered settling with power. He further stated he was unable to increase the throttle, which was not substantiated by eyewitnesses who heard an increase in engine RPM prior to the collision with terrain.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N955B
- Reported as
- Bell 47-G
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 711
- Engine
- Franklin 6V-350-A, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Esteves, Arturo
- Registered owner
- Esteves, Arturo
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
- 50
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 260 total · 220 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Observed at
- JBQ, 6 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.
Other investigations on N955B · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.