Aircraft type
Bell 47 accidents and incidents
Occurrences involving a Bell 47, with variants merged.
1,417 records from 1964 to 2026, 218 of them fatal. Most often in California.
Leaves out 1,075 unreviewed and minor records. Include them
By year
| Year | Occurrences | Fatal occurrences | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 4 | 4 | |
| 1965 | 3 | 5 | |
| 1966 | 12 | 22 | |
| 1967 | 10 | 18 | |
| 1968 | 8 | 9 | |
| 1969 | 14 | 22 | |
| 1970 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1971 | 10 | 11 | |
| 1972 | 6 | 10 | |
| 1973 | 6 | 8 | |
| 1974 | 16 | 27 | |
| 1975 | 8 | 12 | |
| 1976 | 10 | 15 | |
| 1977 | 3 | 3 | |
| 1978 | 9 | 13 | |
| 1979 | 6 | 12 | |
| 1980 | 5 | 7 | |
| 1981 | 3 | 6 | |
| 1982 | 2 | 2 | |
| 1983 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1984 | 4 | 8 | |
| 1985 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1986 | 4 | 4 | |
| 1987 | 4 | 6 | |
| 1988 | 5 | 5 | |
| 1989 | 2 | 2 | |
| 1990 | 3 | 6 | |
| 1991 | 2 | 2 | |
| 1992 | 2 | 7 | |
| 1993 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1994 | 6 | 9 | |
| 1995 | 3 | 5 | |
| 1996 | 6 | 7 | |
| 1997 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1998 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1999 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2004 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2007 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
Airports most often reported
| Airport | Occurrences | Share | Fatal occurrences | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shafter Airport - Minter Field (MIT) | 0.4% | 0 | 0 | |
| Chino Airport (CNO) | 0.3% | 0 | 0 | |
| Mesa Del Rey Airport (KIC) | 0.3% | 0 | 0 | |
| Salinas Municipal Airport (SNS) | 0.3% | 0 | 0 | |
| Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport (1F0) | 0.2% | 0 | 0 | |
| Lebanon State Airport (S30) | 0.2% | 0 | 0 | |
| Rancho Murieta Airport (RIU) | 0.2% | 0 | 0 | |
| Riverside Municipal Airport (RAL) | 0.2% | 0 | 0 | |
| Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport (BAF) | 0.2% | 1 | 1 | |
| Anoka County-Blaine (Janes Field) Airport (ANE) | 0.1% | 1 | 2 |
Countries
| Country | Occurrences | Share | Fatal occurrences | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 97.9% | 203 | 290 | |
| Unknown | 0.8% | 3 | 4 | |
| Canada | 0.3% | 2 | 6 | |
| Costa Rica | 0.1% | 1 | 1 | |
| Finland | 0.1% | 2 | 8 | |
| Nepal | 0.1% | 1 | 2 | |
| Bahamas | 0.1% | 0 | 0 | |
| Federated States Of Micronesia | 0.1% | 1 | 1 | |
| France | 0.1% | 1 | 2 | |
| Greece | 0.1% | 0 | 0 |
US states and territories
| State | Occurrences | Share | Fatal occurrences | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 16.9% | 31 | 49 | |
| Florida | 6.6% | 10 | 15 | |
| Texas | 4.7% | 3 | 3 | |
| Louisiana | 4.4% | 9 | 13 | |
| Washington | 4.4% | 9 | 10 | |
| Alaska | 4.0% | 11 | 13 | |
| Colorado | 3.1% | 4 | 6 | |
| Minnesota | 3.0% | 7 | 10 | |
| Arizona | 3.0% | 8 | 12 | |
| Oregon | 2.8% | 4 | 6 |
Deadliest occurrences
| Occurrence | Date | Total fatalities | Location | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahvenisto helicopter accident | 6 May 1984 | 5 | Ahvenisto Race Circuit, Hämeenlinna | 1 |
| Bell 47J-2 · Long Beach, CA | 14 Sept 1979 | 5 | Long Beach, CA, United States | 1 |
| Bell 47G-4 · Los Angeles, CA | 30 Aug 1966 | 5 | Los Angeles, CA, United States | 2 |
| Western Helicopters Bell 47J2 accident | 29 Jul 1992 | 4 | Adjuntas, PR, United States | 1 |
| Bell 47J-2 · Carpenter, CA | 7 Nov 1966 | 4 | Carpenter, CA, United States | 1 |
| NYC92FA117 · Bell 47-G4A | 16 Jun 1992 | 3 | Shelburne Falls, MA, United States | 1 |
| MKC90FA130 · Bell 47G-3B1 | 15 Jun 1990 | 3 | Cedar Rapids, IA, United States | 1 |
| Bell 47G2A1 · Covington, KY | 20 May 1981 | 3 | Covington, KY, United States | 1 |
| Bell 47-G2 · Branson, MO | 18 Aug 1978 | 3 | Branson, MO, United States | 1 |
| Bell 47G-5 · Keystone, SD | 5 Aug 1975 | 3 | Keystone, SD, United States | 1 |
All occurrences
Showing 50 of 1,417, newest first
- CEN26LA234 · Bell 47G-2Show on map
22 Jun 2026 · Troy, MO, United States
- WPR26LA207 · Bell 47G-2Show on map
1 Jun 2026 · Mettler, CA, United States
- ERA26LA100 · Bell 47G-3BShow on map
29 Jan 2026 · Floral City, FL, United States
- CEN25LA298 · Bell 47G 4AShow on map
31 Jul 2025 · Assumption, MN, United States
- WPR24LA093 · Bell 47G-3B-1Show on map
23 Feb 2024 · Garey, CA, United States
- ERA23LA332 · Bell 47G-5Show on map
12 Aug 2023 · Mifflinville, PA, United States · 1 fatal
- ERA23LA157 · Bell 47G-2A-1Show on map
21 Mar 2023 · Livonia, NY, United States
- WPR23LA006 · Bell 47G2Show on map
1 Oct 2022 · Mesa, AZ, United States
- WPR22LA096 · Bell 47 G2Show on map
11 Feb 2022 · Fallon, NV, United States
- ERA22LA039 · Bell 47D1Show on map
31 Oct 2021 · Zelienople, PA, United States
- ERA21LA272 · Bell 47G-2A-1Show on map
28 Jun 2021 · Brasstown, NC, United States
- WPR21LA077 · Bell 47D 1Show on map
1 Jan 2021 · Marana, AZ, United States
- ERA20LA216 · Bell 47G 3B1Show on map
14 Jun 2020 · Atoka, TN, United States
- GAA20CA062 · Bell 47G 2Show on map
7 Nov 2019 · Groveland, FL, United States
- GAA20CA034 · Bell 47G 5Show on map
18 Oct 2019 · King City, CA, United States
- WPR19TA245 · Bell 47G 4AShow on map
27 Aug 2019 · North Las Vegas, NV, United States
- CEN19TA280 · Bell 47G 3B-1Show on map
20 Aug 2019 · Montrose, CO, United States
- WPR19WA206 · Bell 47GShow on map
30 Jul 2019 · Limpopo Province, South Africa · 1 fatal
- WPR19LA194 · Bell 47G 3B 1Show on map
13 Jul 2019 · Mosby, MT, United States
- GAA19CA250 · Bell 47G 2Show on map
6 May 2019 · Denton, TX, United States
- GAA19CA216 · Bell 47G 3B1Show on map
17 Apr 2019 · Donna, TX, United States
- CEN19LA067 · Bell 47G 2Show on map
11 Jan 2019 · Belen, NM, United States
- WPR19LA019 · Bell 47G 3B1Show on map
2 Nov 2018 · Wichita Falls, TX, United States
- CEN18LA306 · Bell 47G 3BShow on map
2 Aug 2018 · Custer, SD, United States
- CEN18LA269 · Bell 47J 2AShow on map
15 Jul 2018 · Franklin, IN, United States
- CEN18FA258 · Bell 47G 2Show on map
6 Jul 2018 · Arlington, IN, United States · 1 fatal
- CEN18WA214 · Bell 47Show on map
25 May 2018 · Ciudad Valles, Mexico · 1 fatal
- CEN18WA136 · Bell 47G 2Show on map
5 Apr 2018 · Libourne, France · 2 fatal
- WPR18CA096 · Bell 47G 5Show on map
28 Feb 2018 · Pixley, CA, United States
- CEN17WA383 · Bell 47G 2Show on map
18 Sept 2017 · Llano Bonito de Pococí, Costa Rica · 1 fatal
- WPR17LA206 · Bell 47G 5Show on map
17 Sept 2017 · Salinas, CA, United States
- ERA17LA285 · Bell 47G 2AShow on map
20 Aug 2017 · St Marys, PA, United States
- GAA17CA436 · Bell 47G 3BShow on map
24 Jul 2017 · Toterville, IA, United States
- CEN17LA264 · Bell 47D1Show on map
6 Jul 2017 · Big Lake, MN, United States
- CEN16LA294 · Bell 47G 2Show on map
30 Jul 2016 · Oshkosh, WI, United States
- CEN16LA213 · Bell 47G 5Show on map
9 Jun 2016 · Laureles, TX, United States
- GAA16CA293 · Bell 47G 5AShow on map
8 Jun 2016 · Hastings, MN, United States
- CEN16LA182 · Bell 47G 3B 1 TShow on map
13 May 2016 · Portia, AR, United States · 1 fatal
- WPR16LA099 · Bell 47G 5Show on map
29 Apr 2016 · San Ardo, CA, United States
- CEN16LA161 · Bell 47G-2AShow on map
21 Apr 2016 · Los Fresnos, TX, United States
- ERA16LA167 · Bell 47D1Show on map
20 Apr 2016 · Myerstown, PA, United States
- GAA16CA143 · Bell 47 G2Show on map
2 Mar 2016 · Agua Dulce, CA, United States
- WPR16LA069 · Bell 47G 3B 1 TShow on map
13 Feb 2016 · Carson City, NV, United States
- GAA16CA055 · Bell 47G 3BShow on map
18 Oct 2015 · Searchlight, NV, United States
- CEN16LA003 · Bell 47G 3BShow on map
5 Oct 2015 · Huntsville, TX, United States
- GAA15CA221 · Bell 47D1 1Show on map
11 Aug 2015 · Clanton, AL, United States
- ERA15LA296 · Bell 47G 3B 1Show on map
3 Aug 2015 · Camden, AL, United States
- GAA15CA202 · Bell 47G 4AShow on map
25 Jul 2015 · De Queen, AR, United States
- CEN15LA322 · Bell 47G 4AShow on map
24 Jul 2015 · Gilbert, IA, United States
- WPR15LA193 · Bell 47G 5Show on map
20 Jun 2015 · Salinas, CA, United States · 1 fatal