Piston helicopter

N8478D

1957 Bell 47G-2

Registered 1 NTSB/FAA record
Built
1957
Serial
1697
Class
Piston helicopter
Engines
Lycoming VO-435 series
Status
Current as of October 2026
Registered owner
Individual · sign in to see
Based
Friendswood, TX
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1957 Bell 47G-2
Representative photo of a Bell 47G-2. Not a photo of N8478D.
Registration record

N8478D on the FAA register

Type
1957 Bell 47G-2
Serial
1697
Engines
Lycoming VO-435 series
Registered owner
Individual — the name of an individual registrant is shown to signed-in users. Sign in
Friendswood, TX
Certificate issued
2013-06-20
Airworthiness date
1980-12-18
Registration expires
2029-06-30
Airworthiness class
Standard · normal
Mode S (hex)
AB9D4E
Mode S (octal)
52716516
Seats (type)
3
Weight class
up to 12,499 lb
Range (type)
214 nm
Cruise (type)
73 kt
Status
Current as of October 2026
Registry history

Timeline

  • 2029-06-30
    Registration expires (renewal due).
  • 2013-06-20
    Certificate of registration issued as N8478D to the current registrant.
  • 2001-07-10
    Accident at Indianola, MS; damage: substantial.
  • 1980-12-18
    Airworthiness date on the current FAA record (standard category (normal)).
  • 1963-09-17
    N8478D previously assigned to a Piper Super Cub PA-18-150 / PA-18 Super Cub (s/n 18-6188); cancelled.
  • 1957
    Manufactured (1957).
Overview

About N8478D

N8478D is a 1957 Bell 47G-2, serial number 1697. It is registered to an individual in Friendswood, Texas. The current certificate of registration was issued on June 20, 2013 and expires on June 30, 2029.

The FAA aircraft reference file describes the type as a piston helicopter, one Lycoming VO-435 series engine and 3 seats. Published figures for the type give a cruise speed of about 73 knots and a range of about 214 nm; actual performance depends on configuration, load and conditions. Its airworthiness certificate is standard category (normal), dated December 18, 1980.

N8478D has 1 accident/incident record on file (most serious damage: substantial); details are below.

Cruise
73 kt
Range
214 nm
Fuel burn
7 gph

Published figures for the Bell 47G-2 type. They describe the model, not this airframe's equipment or condition.

Safety record

Accident & incident history

2001-07-10 Accident · Indianola, MS Damage: Substantial NTSB · ATL01LA075
Reported aircraft: Bell 47
Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of flight controls during an autorotation that resulted inn the collapse of the skids and cross tube assembly. A factor was the loss of engine power due to the failure of # 1 connecting rod and the overload failure of the skids and cross tub assembly.

Sources: NTSB aviation accident database and CAROL case system, FAA preliminary accident & incident notices. Search accident records

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Data: FAA Aircraft Registry (October 2026), including deregistered aircraft; NTSB and FAA accident data; fyiAero listing history. Individual owners' names are shown to signed-in users and street addresses are never shown. Type figures are published specifications, not this aircraft's.