# NTSB ATL82FKQ12: Bell/Soloy 47G-3B, N8469E, Magee, MS, April 27, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 27, 1982, 06:50 local (12:50 UTC)
- Place: Magee, MS
- Location: 31.8730° N, 89.7340° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Magee, MS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8730&lon=-89.7340&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82FKQ12
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71542/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FKQ12

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - rotorcraft flight control system - undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE BELL 47G-3B WITH A SOLOY CONVERSION WAS BEING USED TO DEMONSTRATE AN AERIAL APPLICATION SPRAYING TECHNIQUE FOR USE ALONG POWERLINE RIGHT-OF-WAYS. FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, ROUTINE SPRAY RUNS WERE MADE OVER SEVERAL DIFFERENT POWERLINES WHILE USING WATER AS A SPRAY. JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, A SPRAY RUN WAS MADE FROM WEST TO EAST WITH A PULL-UP AND TURN-AROUND OVER POWERLINES ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF THE AREA. THE PILOT STATED THAT FOLLOWING THE TURN-AROUND, BOTH THE CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO VIBRATE. HE STATED THE ENGINE WAS PERFORMING SATISFACTORILY AND THE ROTOR RPM WAS NORMAL. WITNESSES STATED THE HELICOPTER REMAINED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL IMPACT. AFTER THE OCCUPANTS WERE REMOVED, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN BURNING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE FIRE DAMAGE, NO USEFUL INFORMATION WAS FOUND REGARDING THE FLIGHT CONTROL, HYDRAULIC, OR OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE BODY FRAME AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8469E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8469E-1983-05-21), registration cancelled 1983-05-21, S/N 2644 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL/SOLOY 47G-3B
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b) (registry code 1181026) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2644
- Airframe hours: 6534
- Engines: ALLISON 20B reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 137
- Operator: Chemaire Of Mississippi, Inc.
- Registered owner: Chemaire Of Mississippi, Inc.
- Departed: MAGEE, MS
- Destination: MAGEE, MS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 6,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 5,760 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 154 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820427012379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820427012379A), Apr 27, 1982: Bell 47G3B, Magee, MS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot claims no control of helicopter after procedure turn. Copter descended into ground colliding with vehicles.

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.

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