NTSB investigations: Bell 47G-3B

7 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Bell 47G-3B, where the first occurrence was “In flight collision with object”. 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

19822026

NTSB investigations: Bell 47G-3B per year, 1982–2026: 7 cases
1982	1
1986	1
1993	2
1994	1
1995	1
2005	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 ('1181026') 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" = 220)) 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 ('1181026')
      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\" = 220))
  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 ('1181026')
    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" = 220))
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 ATL05CA161Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 47G-3B · Summerville, TNThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance and adequate visual lookout during take-off which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree and roll over.Sep 15, 2005 · N8483E · Substantial damage NTSB LAX95LA100Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G-3B · China Lake, CAthe pilot's misjudgement of the clearance between the main rotor and a tree while maneuvering at low altitude to herd animals.Feb 7, 1995 · N73240 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX94LA322Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47-G3B · Truk Island, MicronesiaThe pilot misjudged the clearance between the helicopter's rotor blades and the coconut trees.Aug 16, 1994 · N65678 · Substantial damage NTSB CHI93LA305Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G-3B · Clarinda, IAThe commercial pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from obstacles during aerial application maneuvers.Jul 31, 1993 · N8480E · Destroyed NTSB LAX93LA166Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G2A · Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean)The passenger's failure to adhere to the pilot's instructions. Factors which contributed to the accident were: the language/communications difficulty between the pilot & the passenger, and the bird strike.Mar 24, 1993 · N8493E · Minor damage NTSB ATL86LA138Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G-3B · Red Bay, ALThe pilot had completed a dispensing operation and was returning to the ag staging area to refuel. As the helicopter hovered towards the parked refueling vehicle, the main rotor blades struck a metal structure attached to the truck. The pilot stated that the…May 19, 1986 · N73269 · Substantial damage NTSB DEN82FTC05Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportBell 47G-3B · Douglas, WYThe pilot reported that he made a normal approach to the landing site near his loading dock. When he touched down, the helicopter as on a slope, so he picked the craft back up to a hover. Reportedly, he was moving the helicopter about 4 ft forward to a more…Jun 11, 1982 · N73221 · Substantial damage