Bell 47G (TOM CAT) accident near Dothan, Alabama, August 10, 1987
On August 10, 1987 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Bell 47G (TOM CAT) (helicopter), registered N10175, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dothan, Alabama. 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 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
- August 10, 1987 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Dothan, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G (TOM CAT) 47G (TOM C · all 47G (TOM CAT)s on the register
- Registration
- N10175 · registry record · serial 1272
- 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 WHILE HE WAS MAKING A TURN-AROUND OVER TREES AFTER THE 1ST SWATH RUN, THE HELICOPTER ENCTRD A SUDDEN WIND CHANGE. HE STATED THAT THE WIND COND WAS FROM A CUMULUS BUILDUP WHICH PUT HIM IN A TAILWIND SITUATION. AS HE COMPLETED HIS TURN WITH NEAR ZERO AIRSPEED, THE HELICOPTER BGN TO SETTLE WITH POWER. THE PLT TRIED TO FLY OUT OF THE SITUATION, BUT THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A TREE LIMB & SEPARATED, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO SPIN. THE PLT ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE IN AN ATMT TO MAKE AN AUTOROTATION & THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD.
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: 20,500 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,996 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1987; 250 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 210 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from DHN, 5 miles away
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.