Bell 47G-2A accident near Midland, Michigan, May 31, 1988
On May 31, 1988 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2A (helicopter), registered N440TG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Michigan. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1988 · about 12:30 pm local time · cases in 1988
- Place
- Midland, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2A · all 47G-2As on the register
- Registration
- N440TG · registry record · serial 2245
- 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 PLT RPRTD THAT BEFORE TAKEOFF, HE CHECKED THE FUEL GAGE & CONCLUDED THERE WAS ENOUGH FUEL TO DISPENSE HIS LOAD. HOWEVER, AFTER SPRAYING OUT THE LOAD, HE STARTED TO RETURN TO THE LANDING SITE & THEN THE ENG LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE HELICOPTER WAS OVER TREES & THE PLT HAD TO HOLD COLLECTIVE TO REACH A CLEARING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD & THE SKIDS, TAIL BOOM, TAIL ROTOR & TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX WERE DAMAGED.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,260 hours in all; 2,394 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 4,130 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Agri-Helicopter, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:46 pm from MBS, 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N440TG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N440TG on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Bell 47 478 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Bell 3,080 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 191 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Michigan 2,107 since 1982 · 230 in the last ten years
- Michigan 7,230 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N440TG 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI88DEM05.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.