Bell 47G accident near Huntsville, Texas, October 5, 2015
On October 5, 2015 at about 1:05 pm local time, a 1962 Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N160CS, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Huntsville, Texas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of helicopter control during an agricultural application pass for reasons that could not be determined due to the extent of damage to the flight control system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2015 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Huntsville, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G 3B, built 1962 · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N160CS · no longer on the register · serial 2768
- 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 commercial pilot was conducting an agricultural application flight in the helicopter. He reported that the helicopter felt "awkward" during the spray pass shortly before the event but that he thought that it was due to an uncoordinated turn. During the next spray pass, the helicopter developed a right rolling tendency, which the pilot was initially able to counter with left cyclic control. He then entered a right turn with the intention of returning to the fuel truck. Once the right turn was initiated, he applied full left and aft cyclic control input but the helicopter did not respond. The helicopter began to lose altitude, impacted the ground, and then came to rest in an open field covered with low vegetation. The pilot reported that he did not feel any abnormal vibrations or hear any "pops" before the loss of control authority. He added that the flight went from routine to out of control in a matter of "seconds." A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions; however, the extent of damage to the flight control system precluded a complete examination.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 844 hours in all; 106 in this make and model; 192 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 683 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 17, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,259.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 20, 2015; 20 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce T63-A-700 (turboshaft); 2,266 hours total
- Operator: Custom Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Huntsville TX at 12:50 pm
- Destination: Huntsville TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from UTS, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.