Bell UH-1B accident near Plains, Georgia, September 29, 1989
On September 29, 1989 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Bell UH-1B (helicopter), registered N840MC, was destroyed in an accident near Plains, Georgia. It was a positioning flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER MODIFICATION OF THE HELICOPTER BY THE COMPANY/OPERATOR, AND FAILURE OF THE SPRAY BOOM, WHICH RESULTED IN MAST BUMPING, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE MAIN ROTOR ASSEMBLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1989 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Plains, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B · all UH-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N840MC · registry record · serial 60-3619
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A POSITIONING FLT, AN IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP OF THE HELICOPTER OCCURRED IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE IT WAS CROSSING A LINE OF TREES BETWEEN 2 CLEARED AREAS. WRECKAGE WAS FOUND SCATTERED OVER AN AREA OF APRX 300 YDS IN LENGTH, ALONG A HEADING OF 340 DEG. AT THE SE END, PIECES WERE FOUND FROM THE LEFT SPRAY BOOM & MAIN ROTOR AERODYNAMIC FAIRING. FURTHER TO THE NW, VARIOUS PARTS WERE FOUND FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER, LEFT SPRAY BOOM & TAIL ROTOR. THE MAIN ROTOR & MAIN ROTOR HUB WERE FOUND ABOUT 120 YDS TO THE RIGHT OF THE WRECKAGE PATH. THE FUSELAGE, ENG & TRANS- MISSION WERE FOUND ABOUT 240 YDS NW OF THE 1ST PART OF THE WRECKAGE. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM HAD SEPARATED DUE TO MAST BUMPING. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE LEFT SPRAY BOOM HAD CONTACTED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES DURING FLT. ALL OF THE FRACTURES OF THE SPRAY BOOM, STEEL TRUSS & ASSOC LUGS INDCD OVERLOAD FAILURE IN AFT & UPWARD DRCTN. THE SPRAY ASSEMBLY & BOOM HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR PART 23.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,165 hours in all; 1,351 in this make and model; 122 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 4,024 as pilot in command; 50 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,921 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 20, 1989; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-11D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Plains GA at 9:35 pm
- Destination: 82A Buena Vista GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.