# Accident 19961006031079A: Bell 47G5, Nunda, SD, October 6, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 6, 1996, 08:00 local time
- Place: Nunda, SD
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 44.1593° N, 97.0104° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1593&lon=-97.0104&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7925J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7925J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-5 (registry code 1181032, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G5
- Reported engine: LYC VO435*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,600 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 320 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA004) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961006031079A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED DURING AERIAL APPLICATION AND AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN THE FIELD. (-23) NO NARRATIVE.                                                        (.4) DURING THE SECOND AGRICULTURAL LOAD, A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED, AND THE PILOT MADE AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING, BUT THE HELICOPTER WAS DAMAGED DURING THE OCCURRENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED FAILURE OF SIX BOLTS THAT ATTACHED THE ACCESSORY DRIVE GEAR TO THE CRANKSHAFT. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE ATTACHMENT BOLTS REVEALED THAT FATIGUE CRACKING HAD OCCURRED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT INADEQUATE PRE-LOAD TORQUE HAD BEEN APPLIED TO THE ASSEMBLY. THE ENGINE HAD APPROXIMATELY 400 HOURS SINCE ITS LAST OVERHAUL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA004), Oct 6, 1996: Bell 47G-5 (N7925J), Nunda, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of maintenance personnel to properly torque the six accessory drive bolts, which resulted in fatigue failure of the undertorqued bolts.

## Other reports on N7925J (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20030715015279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030715015279A), Jul 15, 2003: Bell 47G5 (N7925J), Cleveland, MN, Destroyed. (-23) On July 15, 2003, at 0735 central standard time, a Bell, BHT-47-G5, owned and operated by scott churchill, struck two powerlines while spraying herbicide…
- [Accident 19921207056359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921207056359A), Dec 7, 1992: Bell 47G5A (N7925J), Belle Grade, FL, Substantial damage. During aerial taxi to reposition ag helicopter in ramp tail struck ramp. Lost control impacted in a spin.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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