FTW85LA288

1985-07-16 · CRANE, Texas, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport E13

Aircraft involved

N8197J Bell 47G-5 None

Factual narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED FROM A FLAT BED TRAILER. THE PLT STATED HE HAD LIFTED TO A 3 FOOT HOVER WHEN THE ENG STOPPED. THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY ROTATED ABOUT 45 DEGS BEFORE HE COULD STOP IT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN AUTOROTATION TOUCHDOWN BUT WAS STILL PARTIALLY OVER THE TRAILER. THE REAR PORTION OF THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED THE EDGE OF THE TRAILER, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED TO THE LEFT. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND WHICH RESULTED IN DESTRUCTION OF THE HELICOPTER AS THEY CONTINUED TO ROTATE. THE CAUSE OF THE ENG FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1985_FTW85LA288.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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