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Accidents · NTSB ATL94LA009 · Final report

Bell 47G2 accident near Billingsley, Alabama, October 25, 1993

On October 25, 1993 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G2 (helicopter), registered N866Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Billingsley, Alabama. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER VERTICAL LIFTOFF WHICH RESULTED IN DYNAMIC ROLL-OVER AND THE MAIN ROTOR'S IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 25, 1993 · about 4:30 pm local time · cases in 1993
Place
Billingsley, Alabama · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Bell 47G2 · all 47G2s on the register
Registration
N866Z · registry record · serial C-5006
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 PILOT REPORTED THAT AS HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A TRANSPORT TRAILER, THE RIGHT SKID HOOKED A BRACKET. DYNAMIC ROLL- OVER WAS INDUCED AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED UNTIL THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE GROUND.

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; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
  • Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 10,000 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,172 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 1993; 36 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 at 4:30 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 070° at 9 knots
  • Visibility: 7 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
  • Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 3:50 pm from MGM, 30 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL94LA009.json.

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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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.