- Date
- July 30, 1998, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Plainview, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N90529Bell 47G-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 28, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980730019429A
- Case key
- 43630
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
The pilot's not achieving the proper descent rate prior to touchdown. A factor related to the accident was fuel starvation due to a low fuel level.
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 reported he was in a 'hard right hand ag turn' when the engine lost power. The helicopter impacted the terrain hard during the resulting landing. Inspection of the helicopter revealed it was low on fuel at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
On July 30, 1998, at 1630 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-2, N90529, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain following a loss of engine power while maneuvering near Plainview, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injures. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight departed from a field near Plainview, Minnesota.
The pilot reported he was in a "hard right hand ag turn" when the engine lost power. The helicopter impacted the terrain hard during the resulting landing.
Post accident inspection of the helicopter by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration Minneapolis, Minnesota, Flight Standards District Office revealed the helicopter was low on fuel.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N90529
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- NT1958-1
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Northland Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
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
- 29
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 1,215 total · 250 in this make and model · 1,100 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RST, 22 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 N90529 · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.