# NTSB FTW90DPA03: Bell-Moore 47G-2A, N25126, Sivell Bend, TX, May 8, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: May 8, 1990, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Sivell Bend, TX
- Coordinates: 33.630001, -97.150238 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6300&lon=-97.1502&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22929
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90DPA03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22929/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DPA03

## Probable cause

CLEARANCE WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE FLYING OVER THE FIELD TO BE SPRAYED, THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND WHICH RESULTED IN A DESCENT. RECOVERY WAS ATTEMPTED BUT THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT ABLE TO CLIMB BEFORE IT IMPACTED TREES AND THE TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N25126](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25126-2013-07-18), registration cancelled 2013-07-18, S/N H276, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL-MOORE 47G-2A
- Registry model: [Bell-Moore 47G-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-moore-47g-2a) (registry code 1181019) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TVO-435-GIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (registry code 41526, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: H276
- Airframe hours: 1760
- Engines: LYCOMING VO435-A1F 275 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: B & S Flying Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 10, 1990, 60 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 23,000 total, 12,000 in this make and model, 22,000 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 130 in the last 30 days, 15 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point -0 °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 19900508014719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900508014719A), May 8, 1990: Bell 47G2A, Sivel Bend, TX, Substantial damage. Conducted spraying in gusty surface wind. Caught downdraft,unable to recover. Struck nearby trees and crashed.

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.
