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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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October 27, 1985 · Bell 47G-5 · N7840S

Plainfield, WI

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 27, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Plainfield, WI
Aircraft
Bell 47G-5
Tail Number
N7840S
Operator
Reabe Spraying Service
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI86FA017

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES AND NOSED INTO THE WOODED TERRAIN AFTER A LOSS OF POWR. THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN REFUELED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACC. NORMAL FUEL LOAD WAS 20 GALS. THE PLT HAD SPRAYED 20 ACRES & FLOWN 9 MILES TO ANOTHER FIELD TO SPRAY BUT ABORTED DUE TO WIND BEFORE A RETURN TO ARPT. THE DAY OF THE ACC THERE IS NO RECORD OF FUELING. THE PLT TOOK UP THE OPERATION WHERE HE HAD STOPPED BUT AFTER SPRAYING 10 ACRES HE STARTED BACK TO BASE. HE HAD FLOWN APRX 1/2 WAY BACK WHEN THE ENG QUIT. WITNESSES ON THE GROUND HEARD THE ENG POP & QUIT & SAW THE ACFT DESCENDING BUT COULD NOT SEE THE ACTUAL IMPACT DUE TO OBSTRUCTING TREES. THE FUEL TANKS OVER THE ENG HAD BUST DURING THE CRASH AND THERE WAS NO FIRE OR EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE SCENE. NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES OR HUMAN INPAIRMENT WAS REVEALED DURING THE INVESTIGATION EXCEPT EVIDENCE OF LACK OF FUEL.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES AND NOSED INTO THE WOODED TERRAIN AFTER A LOSS OF POWR. THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN REFUELED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACC. NORMAL FUEL LOAD WAS 20 GALS. THE PLT HAD SPRAYED 20 ACRES & FLOWN 9 MILES TO ANOTHER FIELD TO SPRAY BUT ABORTED DUE TO WIND BEFORE A RETURN TO ARPT. THE DAY OF THE ACC THERE IS NO RECORD OF FUELING. THE PLT TOOK UP THE OPERATION WHERE HE HAD STOPPED BUT AFTER SPRAYING 10 ACRES HE STARTED BACK TO BASE. HE HAD FLOWN APRX 1/2 WAY BACK WHEN THE ENG QUIT. WITNESSES ON THE GROUND HEARD THE ENG POP & QUIT & SAW THE ACFT DESCENDING BUT COULD NOT SEE THE ACTUAL IMPACT DUE TO OBSTRUCTING TREES. THE FUEL TANKS OVER THE ENG HAD BUST DURING THE CRASH AND THERE WAS NO FIRE OR EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE SCENE. NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES OR HUMAN INPAIRMENT WAS REVEALED DURING THE INVESTIGATION EXCEPT EVIDENCE OF LACK OF FUEL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:00 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 47G-5
Tail NumberN7840S
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorReabe Spraying Service
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · VO-435-B1A · Reciprocating · 260
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 43 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDawn
Wind300° @ 5 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point46 / 28 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time06:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data