Bell-Continental Copters 47G accident near Clayhatchee, Alabama, July 27, 1990
On July 27, 1990 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Bell-Continental Copters 47G (helicopter), registered N7153, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clayhatchee, Alabama. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE MAGNETO(S). THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN (TREES) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1990 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Clayhatchee, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell-Continental Copters 47G
- Registration
- N7153 · no longer on the register · serial CCI-69-1
- 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 DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLT, THE ENG LOST POWER AS HE MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER (PULLED UP) OVER A TREE LINE. AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING WAS MADE IN THE TREES. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT MAGNETO WOULD NOT FIRE; HOWEVER, IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER ITS COIL WAS RELACED. ENG RECORDS INDICATED THE MAGNETOS HAD BEEN OVERHAULED ON 1/14/80, APRX 96 FLT HRS BEFORE THE ACDNT.
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: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 917 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1990; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin O-335 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bug Busters, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.