Bell 47G/TOMCAT MK5 accident near Elberton, Georgia, November 6, 1989
On November 6, 1989 at about 7:38 pm local time, a Bell 47G/TOMCAT MK5 (helicopter), registered N73871, was destroyed in an accident near Elberton, Georgia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1989 · about 7:38 pm local time
- Place
- Elberton, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G/TOMCAT MK5 47G/TOMCAT · all 47G/TOMCAT MK5s on the register
- Registration
- N73871 · no longer on the register · serial CCI 163
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SPRAYING OPERATION IN SUPPORT OF A FEDERAL BOLLWEEVIL ERADICATION PROGRAM. THE HELICOPTER WAS APPROACHING A COTTON FIELD AT 500 FT AGL WHEN THE OWNER BELIEVES HE SAW THE HELICOPTER TURN AWAY. IT THEN WAVERED LATERALLY RIGHT TO LEFT, A LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED, ALL ENGINE NOISE CEASED AND THE HELICOPTER APPEARED TO FALL STRAIGHT DOWN. FIVE SECONDS LATER, A CRASHING SOUND WAS HEARD. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION REVEALED ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS OF FUEL IN THE ENGINE AND ACCESSORIES. HOWEVER, THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WITH ABOUT 25 GALLONS OF FUEL. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICE WITH THE TEMP BEING 74 DEGS AND THE DEWPOINT AT 6O DEGS. INVESTIGATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF AN ATTEMPTED AUTOROTATIVE PROCEDURE OR A MECHANICAL FAILURE.
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: 16,000 hours in all; 197 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,176 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1989; 534 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-434-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ag-Rotor INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from AGS, 50 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.
Other NTSB records under N73871 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.