Bell-Carson 47G-SUPER C-4 accident near Eufaula, Alabama, November 16, 1993
On November 16, 1993 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Bell-Carson 47G-SUPER C-4 (helicopter), registered N614X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eufaula, Alabama (Private airport). 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LIMITED HELICOPTER FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 1993 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Eufaula, Alabama · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell-Carson 47G-SUPER C-4 47G-SUPER · all 47G-SUPER C-4s on the register
- Registration
- N614X · registry record · serial C-5012
- 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 WAS ATTEMPTING TO TRANSFER THE HELICOPTER FROM A TRAILER TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, STRUCK THE TRAILER, AND CRASHED. THE PILOT DID NOT HOLD A HELICOPTER RATING.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 8,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 12, 1993; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin GV335-5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,500 ft by 66 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from DHN, 35 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.