NTSB investigations: Bell 47D1

8 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Bell 47D1, where the first occurrence was “Loss of control - in flight”. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19842026

NTSB investigations: Bell 47D1 per year, 1984–2026: 8 cases
1984	1
1986	1
1987	1
1988	1
1989	1
1990	1
1991	1
1994	1

Where

Open the map

Latest cases

Query with SQL

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1180802') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 250)) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1180802')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 250))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1180802')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 250))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB LAX94LA235Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47D-1 · Chino, CAloss of aircraft control due to the pilot's failure to correctly configure the hydraulic system prior to takeoff.Jun 2, 1994 · N14412 · Substantial damage NTSB FTW91LA091Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47D-1 · Peach Orchard, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM resulting in deteriorated helicopter performance. A factor was the tailwind condition.Jun 5, 1991 · N8117 · Substantial damage NTSB ATL90DLQ01Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBell 47D1 · Hickman, KYImproper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot. The resultant tailwind was a related factor.Apr 24, 1990 · N2134 · Substantial damage NTSB MIA90LA023Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47D1 · Loxahatchee, FLFailure of the pilot to maintain rotor RPM after pulling up from a swath run. A related factor was the presence of trees.Nov 2, 1989 · N93067 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC89DNE01Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportBell 47D1 · Russell, MAA pilot induced low rotor RPM condition, followed by blade flapping as the main rotor blade contacted the tail of the helicopter.Dec 2, 1988 · N163B · Destroyed NTSB MIA87LA145Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G-2 · Rolling Fork, MSWhile landing downwind, at an alt of aprx 20 feet, the helicopter began to settle with power. The pilot then attempted to stop the descent, however, because of insufficient alt & airspeed, was unable. The helicopter then landed hard, rolled over, after which,…Apr 25, 1987 · N202CH · Substantial damage NTSB MIA86LA168Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47-D1 · Panama City Bch, FLThe pilot had intended to hover the helicopter and allow a 'clown' to touch the skids while a photographer recorded the event looking upward to give the appearance that the 'clown' was hanging from the skid. The 'clown' grabbed the left rear skid and the…May 29, 1986 · N10065 · Substantial damage NTSB CHI84LA184Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47D1 · Alpena, MIPrior to the accident, the owner/plt of the helicopter reportedly 'buzzed' a local baseball game. Shortly after that, the helicopter was observed to maneuver over a wooded area, enter a nose high attitude, then roll or bank & enter a descent into a wooded…May 20, 1984 · N9158R · Destroyed