- Date
- May 31, 1991, 20:00 local (Jun 1, 1991, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Colt, AR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N31052Bell 47-G3B1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 3, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910531018589A
- Case key
- 23201
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
Loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A factor was the unsuitable terrain.
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
During a day agriculture operation, the pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power in a descending turn. The right skid sheared when it struck a berm and the tail rotor cable separated. The pilot lost control and the helicopter rolled on its right side. The helicopter was consumed by a post crash fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N31052
- Reported as
- Bell 47-G3B1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2934
- Engine
- Lycoming TVO-435-D1B, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Wilburn W. Taylor, doing business as Taylor Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Wilburn W. Taylor
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1991 · 100 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Colt, 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
- 41
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 200 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 12 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.