Bell-Campbell CHG-2 accident near Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, July 18, 1986
On July 18, 1986 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Bell-Campbell CHG-2 (helicopter), registered N5235N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brooklyn Park, 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
- July 18, 1986 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Brooklyn Park, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell-Campbell CHG-2
- Registration
- N5235N · no longer on the register · serial 2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT AFTER MAKING THREE QUARTER-MILE PASSES OVER THE FIELD THE ENGINE QUIT AND HE WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. THE PILOT STATED, PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN REFUELED BY A GROUND CREW MEMBER. ACCORDING TO THE GROUND CREW MEMBER, THE TANK WAS LOW AND HE HAD TO TIP THE TANK INORDER TO GET FUEL OUT. THE FUELER ALSO STATED THE CALIBRATED FUEL STICK, USED TO MEASURE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANKS, WAS NOT ON THE FUELING TRUCK ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED VIRTUALLY NO FUEL WAS REMAINING IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. ALSO, A FUEL QUANTITY GAGE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THE HELICOPTER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,308 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 142 in the last 90 days; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-435-23CR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 90°F (32°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.
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.