Bell 47G3B1 accident near Coon Rapids, Minnesota, July 31, 1990
On July 31, 1990 at about 3:07 pm local time, a Bell 47G3B1 (helicopter), registered N4990H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coon Rapids, 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND MISJUDGEMENT OF HIS FUEL SUPPLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1990 · about 3:07 pm local time
- Place
- Coon Rapids, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G3B1 · all 47G3B1s on the register
- Registration
- N4990H · registry record · serial 2942
- 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 IN NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. AN AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED, HOWEVER THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE AND LANDED HARD RENDERING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED ONLY UNUSABLE FUEL IN THE TANKS OF THE HELICOPTER. WHEN FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE TANKS THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 7,000 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 7,550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,410 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 13, 1990; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO435A1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Coon Rapids MN at 2:50 pm
- Destination: ANE Anoka CO. MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from MSP, 16 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.
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.