# NTSB MKC85LA152: Bell 47G, N75273, Pella, IA, July 10, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 10, 1985, 10:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place: Pella, IA
- Coordinates: 41.400016, -92.909309 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4000&lon=-92.9093&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC85LA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC85LA152

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application
  - terrain condition - crop

## Analysis

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO PROVEDE TRAINING IN AERIAL APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES FOR THE PLT/OWNER OF N75273. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS M/M AND WAS AT THE CONTROLS. HE WAS DEMONSTRATING A TURN AROUND AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN AND A RIGHT TURN WAS BEGUN. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THE BANK STEEPENED AND DESPITE HIS USE O FULL LEFT LATERAL CYLIC CONTROL THE BANK STEEPEN TO NEARLY 90 DEG. THE INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED FROM THE TOP OF THE TURN, WHICH WAS 80-100 FT AGL, IN A RT BANK AT APPROX 30 KT UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE CROP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75273](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75273-1989-02-01), registration cancelled 1989-02-01, S/N 7 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G
- Registry model: [Bell 47G](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g) (registry code 1181002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 7
- Airframe hours: 3800
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-435 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ronald C. Kramer
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; seat: right; flight hours: 23,975 total, 9,000 in this make and model, 23,450 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °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 19850710030529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850710030529A), Jul 10, 1985: Bell 47G, Pella, IA, Destroyed. Spray boom and main rotor contacted corn during aerial application training turn around. Inverted during crash.

## Other investigations on N75273 (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 OAK76DVG07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76DVG07), Jul 13, 1975: Bell 47G (N75273), Montague, CA, substantial damage

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.