Bell 47G-2 accident near Slocomb, Alabama, August 15, 1992
On August 15, 1992 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter), registered N2880B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Slocomb, 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
A HARD LANDING DUE TO A POWER LOSS FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUSTABLE TERRAIN FOR THE LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1992 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Slocomb, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · all 47G-2s on the register
- Registration
- N2880B · no longer on the register · serial 1966
- 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 AG PILOT HAD COMPLETED SPRAYING A FIELD, AND WAS RETURNING TO HIS NURSE TRUCK. AT ABOUT 200 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE QUIT. HE MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER TOWARD AN OPEN CORN FIELD, HOWEVER HE LOST ROTOR RPM WHILE AVOIDING OBSTACLES. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. ONE PINT OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,454 hours in all; 1,148 in this make and model; 1,243 as pilot in command; 374 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 4, 1992; 142 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Slocomb AL at 8:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 pm from DHN, 15 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.