Bell 47-G5 accident near Fulton, Wisconsin, August 25, 1993
On August 25, 1993 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Bell 47-G5 (helicopter), registered N1464W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fulton, Wisconsin. 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 failure (fracture) of the number one cylinder intake valve retainer (keeper).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1993 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Fulton, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47-G5 · all 47-G5s on the register
- Registration
- N1464W · no longer on the register · serial 7933
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE HELICOPTER WAS LIFTING OFF AN ELEVATED STAND ON A LOADING TRUCK, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT USED THE ROTOR INERTIA TO GUIDE THE HELICOPTER AWAY FROM THE STAND AND TRUCK WHEN THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FRACTURED INTAKE VALVE RETAINER (KEEPER) IN THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,722 hours in all; 10,597 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 10,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,257 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 1993; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-BIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.