Bell 47G3-B1 accident near Devils Tower, Wyoming, June 1, 1983
On June 1, 1983 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G3-B1 (helicopter), registered N80711, was substantially damaged in an accident near Devils Tower, Wyoming. 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1983 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Devils Tower, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G3-B1 · all 47G3-B1s on the register
- Registration
- N80711 · registry record · serial 3815
- 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 ACFT CRASH LANDED IN TREES AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED IN AERIAL APPLICATION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE OPERATION WAS BEING DONE IN 8 MINUTE SEGMENTS. EVERY 8 MINUTES THE HELICOPTER LANDED FOR A RELOAD OF HERBICIDE. AT ABOUT 1430-1500 HOURS THE ACFT WAS REFUELED WITH 29 GALLONS OF 100 OCTANE FUEL. AT 1600 HOURS THE ENGINE CEASED OPERATION 3 MINUTES AFTER A TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS AT 50 FT AGL GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. THERE WAS NO CLEAR AREA FOR A LANDING SO THE PILOT AUTOROTATED INTO TREES. THE ACFT HAS AN ENDURANCE OF ABOUT ONE AND ONE HALF HOURS. DURING THE FIRST INTERVIEW THE PILOT SAID THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. NO FUEL WAS ABOARD THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT LATER FOUND AN AN FITTING WAS LOOSE ON THE GAS TANK SUMP DRAIN. HE SAID IT WAS NOT LEAKING WHEN THE ACFT WAS REFUELED. THE PILOT FOUND AN AREA OF LEAKED FUEL WHICH HE ESTIMATED AT 5 GALLONS NEAR THE SUMP DRAIN. THE ACFT HAS ONLY ONE FUEL TANK AND IT CONTAINS 2 UNUSABLE GALLONS OF FUEL.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,550 hours in all; 4,570 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,607 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 27, 1983; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IVO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 39°F (4°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.