Bell 47G-3B accident near Clarinda, Iowa, July 31, 1993
On July 31, 1993 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B (helicopter), registered N8480E, was destroyed in an accident near Clarinda, Iowa. 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 COMMERCIAL PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES DURING AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVERS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1993 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clarinda, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B · all 47G-3Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8480E · no longer on the register · serial 2651
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVERS OVER FLAT TERRAIN. HE REPORTED HE ASSESSED THE FIELD TO LOCATE OBSTACLES, THEN MADE THE FIRST SPRAY RUN FROM EAST TO WEST. AS THE HELICOPTER APPROACHED THE EAST END OF THE FIELD AT THE END OF THE SECOND SPRAY RUN, THE PILOT '...WAS AGAIN VERIFYING THE EXISTANCE AND LOCATION OF POWER POLES AND LOOKING FOR POWER LINES. DURING CLIMBOUT ON EAST END OF FIELD POWER LINES WERE IMPACTED BY SKIDS... .' THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST INVERTED.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 37 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,937 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 1993; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,860 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 10:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.