Bell 47 accident near Indianola, Mississippi, July 10, 2001
On July 10, 2001 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Bell 47 (helicopter), registered N8478D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianola, Mississippi. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of flight controls during an autorotation that resulted inn the collapse of the skids and cross tube assembly. A factor was the loss of engine power due to the failure of # 1 connecting rod and the overload failure of the skids and cross tub assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2001 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Indianola, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47 · all 47s on the register
- Registration
- N8478D · registry record · serial 1697
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while enroute to the next field to be sprayed, at 500 feet, the engine lost power. After attempts to restore full power, the pilot selected a nearby field. During the autorotative touchdown, the helicopter rolled over on the right side. During the engine examination, metal particles were recovered from the engine oil pump screen and the engine oil filter element. Further examination showed that # 1 cylinder connecting rod cap was wedged between the second crankshaft lobe and the engine case. The examination of the helicopter also revealed that the landing skid and cross-tubs were fractured into several pieces. The fracture examination showed all fractures were in overload. The engine had accumulated a total of 935.1 hours since the last major overhaul.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 24, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,378.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming OV-435-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Indianola MS at 2:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from GWO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.