Bell 47G accident near Marion, Alabama, May 21, 2002
On May 21, 2002 at about 6:36 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N72MU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marion, Alabama. 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 failure to maintain visual lookout while conducting an aerial application maneuver. A factor was the transmission line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2002 · about 6:36 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N72MU · no longer on the register · serial 6867
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while spraying the edge of a lake, he lost visual contact with the nearby power line, and was unable to reacquire visual contact. The helicopter struck the power line as the pilot maneuvered the helicopter for the spray operation.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 29,200 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 28,875 as pilot in command; 751 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 2, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2002; 109 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,250 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison T63A700 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aerial Application Technologies LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Marion AL at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BHM
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.