Bell 47G-5A accident near Anoka, Minnesota, August 24, 2007
On August 24, 2007 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Bell 47G-5A (helicopter), registered N25LB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anoka, Minnesota (Anoka County-Blane Airport). 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 loss of helicopter pitch control for undetermined reasons during the aerial application maneuver and the pilot's inability to control the aircraft during the descent.. A contributing factor to the accident was the soft terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2007 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Anoka, Minnesota · Anoka County-Blane Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-5A · all 47G-5As on the register
- Registration
- N25LB · registry record · serial 25102
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While maneuvering during an aerial application, the helicopter pilot reported hearing a "CA-BANG" sound followed by a loss of pitch control. The pilot was unable to control the helicopter's rate of descent during the emergency landing and hence impacted on sandy terrain and nosed over. An examination of the wreckage showed no anomalies.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,505 hours in all; 3,150 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 6,805 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,359.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison A-250-C10D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Anoka MN at 5:57 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from ANE
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.
Other NTSB records under N25LB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.