# NTSB CHI83LA292: Bell 47G-4A, N7069J, Wheeler, IL, July 5, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 1983, 20:45 local (Jul 5, 1983, 01:45 UTC)
- Place: Wheeler, IL
- Coordinates: 39.040931, -88.309303 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0409&lon=-88.3093&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83LA292
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12243/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA292

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHILE HE WAS RETURNING FOR ANOTHER LOAD OF CHEMICALS, THE ENG MISSED A COUPLE OF TIMES, THEN SMOOTHED OUT FOR ABOUT 1 MIN. AFTER THAT, THE ENG MISSED AGAIN, THEN QUIT WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS AT APRX 150 FT AGL. THE PLT CHOSE TO CLEAR OVER CORN & LAND IN A BEAN FIELD. WHILE CLEARING THE CORN, HIS ROTOR RPM DECAYED, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE TAIL BOOM. ABOUT 1 PINT OF WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK SUMPS & RUST WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL VALVE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7069J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7069J-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 7737, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-4A
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4a) (registry code 1181031) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 7737
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-540-B1B3 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Rowco, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 1983, 3 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,175 total, 5,000 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °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 19830704031229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830704031229A), Jul 4, 1983: Bell 47G4A, Wheeler, IL, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during hard emergency landing. Water found in tank sumps and rust in fuel valve.

## Other investigations on N7069J (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 WPR10CA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA283), Jun 8, 2010: Bell 47G-4A (N7069J), Shaw Island, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The passenger's inadvertent movement of the mixture control during climb, resulting in a loss of engine power.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.