Bell 47D1 accident near Le Sueur, Minnesota, May 29, 1982
On May 29, 1982 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Bell 47D1 (helicopter), registered N4251A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Le Sueur, Minnesota. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1982 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Le Sueur, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D1 · all 47D1s on the register
- Registration
- N4251A · no longer on the register · serial 110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SPRAYING OPERATION, THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING REFUELED FROM A 200 GAL FUEL TANK, MOUNTED ON THE REAR OF A TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT SLOPE WITH THE OUTLET FOR THE SERVICING HOSE AT THE LOWER END. AFTER THE HELICOPTER WAS SERVICED WITH 14 GALLONS OF FUEL, THE PILOT SPRAYED A 4 ACRE FIELD AND BEGAN SPRAYING A 47 ACRE FIELD. WHILE IN A SWATH RUN AT 4 TO 6 FT AGL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT DUMPED HIS LOAD AND LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE HELICOPTER TURNED ABOUT 180 DEGREES WHILE SLIDING TO A STOP. DURING THIS TIME, THE SKIDS BUCKLED AND THE MAIN ROTOR, TAIL BOOM, AND CANOPY BUBBLE WERE DAMAGED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WATER WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 349 hours in all; 285 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 246 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,402 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin O-335-5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tery Jon Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Le Sueur MN at 8:35 am
- Destination: Le Sueur MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N4251A 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.