Bell 47G-2A-1 accident near Phlox, Wisconsin, June 11, 1993
On June 11, 1993, a Bell 47G-2A-1 (helicopter), registered N73988, was destroyed in an accident near Phlox, Wisconsin. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE CYCLIC CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1993
- Place
- Phlox, Wisconsin
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2A-1 · all 47G-2A-1s on the register
- Registration
- N73988 · no longer on the register · serial 2878
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED FROM THE ROAD ADJACENT TO THE POTATO FIELD HE HAD BEEN SPRAYING AND WAS GOING TO REPOSITION FOR ANOTHER SPRAYING RUN. WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN, IT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE BRUSH AND TREES SOUTH OF THE RIVER. THE PILOT'S SON STATED THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. NO ANOMALIES WERE DISCOVERED DURING ENGINE TEARDOWN. HOWEVER, THE CYCLIC STICK CONTROLS FOR THE RIGHT SEAT, THE SEAT THE PILOT WAS FLYING FROM, WERE DIFFERENT THAN THOSE FOR THE LEFT SEAT. THE RIGHT STICK WAS SIGNIFICANTLY FURTHER BACK AND TO THE LEFT THAN THE LEFT CONTROLS. IN FACT, THE SON SAID TO A WITNESS THAT '...IN ORDER TO FLY THE HELICOPTER LEVEL, HE (THE PILOT) HAD TO HAVE THE CYCLIC ALMOST FULL LEFT.'
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: 250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,047 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Red Dog Helicopter, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:00 pm
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.