# NTSB NYC73DIJ02: Bell 47G-2A, N8486E, Richlands, VA, August 19, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 19, 1972
- Place: Richlands, VA · RICHLANDS, VA
- Location: 37.0880° N, 81.8104° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Richlands, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0880&lon=-81.8104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 14, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 167855
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC73DIJ02
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73DIJ02

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3148  72/8/19    RICHLANDS,VA        BELL 47G-2A         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 29, 1560
        TIME - 0845                    N8486E              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 1420 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HELI.STOP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RICHLANDS,VA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO USE OR INCORRECTLY USED MISC.EQUIPMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOAD NOT JETTISONED
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       68
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          240                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING FORESTS
          KIND OF CROP - FOREST-TREES                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - NOT AVAILABLE
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -MOUNTAINOUS
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  3050
        REMARKS- OVRLOADED FOR EXISTING CONDS. PLT REACHED FOR EMERG DUMP SWITCH,INADVERTENTLY HIT RADIO SWITCH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8486E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8486E), registered now, S/N 2679 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-2A
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2a) (registry code 1181012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Heli.Stop

## Other investigations on N8486E (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 ATL02LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA128), Jun 24, 2002: Bell 47G-2A (N8486E), La Belle, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain visual lookout while maneuvering during an aerial application, which resulted in an in-flight collision with power lines and uncontrolled descent into terrain.

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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