Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

August 8, 1999 · Bell 47G-B3 · N6712D

Selma, AL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 8, 1999
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Selma, AL
Aircraft
Bell 47G-B3
Tail Number
N6712D
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA99LA217

After a test flight following maintenance, the pilot/owner was positioning the helicopter onto a trailer, (tail forward) when the right landing skid slipped off and became hooked on the edge of the landing platform. Despite full forward, left cyclic, the rotorcraft continued backward until the main rotor blades collided with the aft part of the truck. The main rotor pitch control rods were removed and shipped to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for failure analysis, and although the rods were found to possess under specification tensile strength, all damage appeared to be consistent with impact damage.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper touchdown point during landing causing the landing skid to become entangled with the edge of the helipad platform and the resultant rollover and main rotor blade strike of the tow vehicle.

Full Narrative

On August 8, 1999, about 1600 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-3B, N6712D, registered to Precision Air Services, Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 maintenance test flight, crashed while attempting a landing onto a trailer near Selma, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter received substantial damage, the trailer-truck helipad was damaged, and the commercially-rated pilot and a passenger were not injured. The flight originated from the same location about 20 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot, during his landing attempt, the right skid became hooked on the trailer, and the helicopter sustained a dynamic rollover, damaging the main and tail rotor blades, the main rotor mast, and the tail boom. In his statement the pilot stated, "I screwed up." According to FAA personnel, postcrash pilot interview and examination of the damaged main rotor system and rotor collision damage to the trailer and truck revealed that during the landing phase onto the helipad, the right landing skid slid off the landing platform and the pilot's control correction, (full forward and left cyclic) led to a main rotor thrust vector similar to what would be experienced in a dynamic rollover. The main rotor pitch change control rods were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for failure analysis. It was determined the components were part of a main rotor mast modification approved as Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SH2772SW. The difference between the original and the replacement mast head controls is illustrated in Figure 2 of the enclosed report titled, "NTSB Materials Laboratory Factual Report". All separation and bending overstress damage to the components appeared consistent with impact damage. The center hexagons of three of the control rods were hardness tested using a Rockwell "A" scale indenter. The equivalent tensile strength specifications on the samples were found to be under that required by drawings of the control rods; however, it is not considered a factor in this accident. For additional information, see "NTSB Materials Laboratory Factual Report."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 CDT
Nearest AirportCraig Field (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 47G-B3
Tail NumberN6712D
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · T63-700 · Turboshaft · 318
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 53 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 6 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point10 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time20:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data