# NTSB IAD79DIJ11: Bell 47G-4A, N13PL, Kentuck, WV, August 20, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 20, 1979
- Place: Kentuck, WV · KENTUCK, WV
- Location: 38.6556° N, 81.5904° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kentuck, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6556&lon=-81.5904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 29, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133741
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79DIJ11
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79DIJ11

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3477  79/8/20    KENTUCK,WV          BELL 47G-4A         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 1323
        TIME - 1815                    N13PL               PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 350 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED        UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: PULLUP FROM SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOAD NOT JETTISONED
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (LIQUID)
          KIND OF CROP - FOREST-TREES                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -HILLY
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  1020                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N13PL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13PL-2001-04-13), registration cancelled 2001-04-13, S/N 7586 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-4A
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4a) (registry code 1181031) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19790820022239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790820022239A), Aug 20, 1979: Bell 47G4A, Kentuck, WV, Substantial damage. Allowed rotor RPM to decay during spray operation. Settled into trees.

## Other investigations on N13PL (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 NYC80FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80FA091), Sep 24, 1980: Bell 47G-4A (N13PL), Holbrook, PA, destroyed

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.

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