# NTSB CHI81FER60: Bell 47G3B1, N96671, Stewart, MN, August 12, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 12, 1981
- Place: Stewart, MN · STEWART, MN
- Location: 44.7238° N, 94.4866° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Stewart, MN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7238&lon=-94.4866&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124670
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FER60
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FER60

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1938  81/8/12    STEWART,MN          BELL 47G3B1         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 38, 2407
        TIME - 1140                    N96671              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 2262 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STEWART,MN                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: ABORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED ACTION IN ABORTING TAKEOFF
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - JETTISONED LOAD
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 2350                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - CORN                                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - BELLY                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  1080                PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - ENTRY TO PROCEDURE TURN
        REMARKS- HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF GRAVEL ROAD,CROSSED A DITCH,AN ASPHALT RD,ANOTHER DITCH,& LNDD IN BEAN FLD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N96671](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96671-2022-07-02), registration cancelled 2022-07-02, S/N 3539, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810812049169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810812049169A), Aug 12, 1981: Bell 47G3B1, Stewart, MN, Substantial damage. Lost lift of ground effect on takeoff over deep ditches on hot, humid day. Settled hard into soybean field.

## Other investigations on N96671 (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 GAA19CA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA216), Apr 17, 2019: Bell 47G (N96671), Donna, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain altitude during an agricultural application flight.

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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