Bell TH-13T accident near Melvin, Alabama, June 10, 1987
On June 10, 1987 at about 12:40 pm local time, a Bell TH-13T (helicopter), registered N205PS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Melvin, 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 1987 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Melvin, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell TH-13T · all TH-13Ts on the register
- Registration
- N205PS · no longer on the register · serial 3665
- 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 PLT RPRTD THAT AFTER LNDG TO RELOAD WITH HERBICIDE, HE GOT OUT OF THE HELICOPTER TO CHECK THE FUEL IN THE TANKS. AFTER A VISUAL INSPN, HE BELIEVED HE HAD 'AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT' OF FUEL TO FLY ABOUT 1/4 MI TO THE AREA TO BE SPRAYED, APPLY THE CHEMICAL & RETURN TO THE LOADING AREA. HOWEVER, WHEN HE WAS ON THE LAST SPRAY RUN AT ABOUT 40' AGL, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT MADE AN AUTOROTATIVE APCH TO A NEARBY ROAD WHERE THE HELICOPTER LNDD HARD & SKIDDED TO A STOP. DRG THE LNDG, THE TAIL BOOM HIT THE ROAD & WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. THE PLT STATED THE HELICOPTER RAN OUT OF FUEL.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,395 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 10,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,662 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.