NYC90LA025

1989-11-04 · WESTFIELD, Massachusetts, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport BAF

Aircraft involved

N57919 Bell 47G-3B1 Minor

Probable cause & findings

LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHICH RESULTED IN THE TAIL ROTOR STRIKING THE GROUND AND SEPARATING FROM THE HELICOPTER.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT SAID HE WAS MAKING CLEARING TURNS WHEN HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CYCLIC CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES HAD SEPARATED AFTER CONTACTING THE GROUND. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND WITH THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM OR FLIGHT CONTROLS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_NYC90LA025.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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