- Date
- May 25, 1982, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Jonesboro, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N6851Bell 47D1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 25, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820525019929A
- Case key
- 71206
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
After loading 40 gallons of herbicide on the aircraft the pilot attempted to lift off the back of the loading truck. The takeoff was normal; however, as the helicopter cleared the truck, it was not able to sustain a hover. The pilot then executed a running landing in the adjacent wheat field. During the landing the spray booms became entangled in the wheat causing the aircraft to nose down and over on its back.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6851
- Reported as
- Bell 47D1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- K876
- Airframe hours
- 2,300
- Engine
- Franklin 6V4, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 137
- Operator
- Florida Flying Service Inc.
- Registered owner
- Florida Flying Service Inc.
- Departed
- Jonesboro, AR
- Destination
- Jonesboro, AR
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
- 44
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 5,200 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 5,200 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 176 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.