Bell 47G-2A-1 accident near Balm, FL
On October 21, 2003, a Bell 47G-2A-1 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Balm, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 21, 2003
- Place
- Balm, FL
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2A-1 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 27.770°N, 82.286°W
- NTSB ID
- 20031024X01809
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 21, 2003, about 1140 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47G-2A-1 helicopter, N73979, registered to Central Florida Flying Service, Inc., and operated by the pilot, impacted with a hangar on the pilot's private property in Balm, Florida. The helicopter was destroyed. The non-certificated pilot and a bystander on the ground received fatal injuries. The passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight. The flight departed from a concrete pad in front of the hangar about 1100. There was one witness to the accident. The witness stated that around 1100 he had gone for a ride in the helicopter with the pilot. The ride lasted for 20 to 30 minutes and when they landed, he got out and his friend got in to go for a ride. The helicopter took off and was gone for about 15 minutes. When it returned, he was standing in front of the hangar beside the bystander who was killed. The helicopter flew by twice, once from south to north, a second time from north to south and then turned to come from west to east. As the helicopter approached, the witness estimated it was about 8 to 12 feet off the ground. He was taking pictures with a disposable camera and the bystander was filming the helicopter's flight with a video camera. The witness stated that he believed the pilot was performing a fly-by so that he and the bystander could take pictures. He further stated that he believed "the blades on top of the helicopter struck the hanger above where [the bystander
Probable cause
The pilot's intentional buzzing and his failure to maintain altitude/clearance which resulted in an in-flight collision with a building.
More accidents in FL
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Browse: Florida · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
