- Date
- November 6, 1989, 14:38 local (19:38 UTC)
- Place
- Elberton, GA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N73871Bell 47G/Tomcat MK5
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 24, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891106046999A
- Case key
- 8079
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was conducting a spraying operation in support of a federal bollweevil eradication program. The helicopter was approaching a cotton field at 500 ft AGL when the owner believes he saw the helicopter turn away. It then wavered laterally right to left, a loud noise followed, all engine noise ceased and the helicopter appeared to fall straight down. Five seconds later, a crashing sound was heard. Wreckage examination revealed only small amounts of fuel in the engine and accessories. However, the flight departed with about 25 gallons of fuel. Weather conditions were conducive to carb ice with the temp being 74 degs and the dewpoint at 6O degs. Investigation failed to disclose evidence of an attempted autorotative procedure or a mechanical failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N73871
- Reported as
- Bell 47G/Tomcat MK5 (47G/TOMCAT)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- CCI 163
- Airframe hours
- 4,176
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-434-A1F, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Ag-Rotor Inc
- Registered owner
- Ag-Rotor, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 1989 · 534 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 16,000 total · 197 in the last 90 days · 83 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AGS, 50 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N73871 · 5
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.