Bell 47G-3B accident near Summerville, Tennessee, September 15, 2005
On September 15, 2005 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B (helicopter), registered N8483E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Summerville, Tennessee. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance and adequate visual lookout during take-off which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree and roll over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2005 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Summerville, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B · all 47G-3Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8483E · registry record · serial 2650
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, the helicopter's main rotor blade struck a tree 15 feet above the ground. The helicopter collided with the ground, rolled over and burst into flames. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,350 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,015 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 16,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Summerville TN at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft; scat at 200 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:30 pm from KNQA
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.