Amateur-built 47D1 accident near Amagon, Arkansas, May 8, 1982
On May 8, 1982, a amateur-built 47D1 (helicopter), registered N45867, was destroyed in an accident near Amagon, Arkansas. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- May 8, 1982
- Place
- Amagon, Arkansas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 47D1
- Registration
- N45867 · no longer on the register · serial H277
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TEST THE AERIAL SPRAY EQUIPMENT. AFTER STARTING AND WARMING THE ENGINE, THE PILOT TOOK OFF, FLEW ABOUT 1/4 MI SOUTH, THEN FLEW NORTH. A MOTORIST STATED THAT HE SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE HELICOPTER. TWO TEEN-AGERS HEARD POPPING SOUNDS, AND REPORTEDLY, THE ENGINE WAS BACKFIRING, STOPPIN AND STARTING. ABOUT 1 MI NORTH OF THE DEPARTURE POINT, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED AND TRAVELED 82 FT BEFORE STOPPING. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE HAD OPERATED ABOUT 17 HRS SINCE A MAJOR OVERHAUL ON 5/20/78. THE LAST REPORTED INSPECTION WAS ON 3/24/82. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED HEAVY RUST AND CORROSION IN THE CARBURETOR, EXTREMELY DIRTY AIR CLEANER, OLD AND SEVERELY WORN SPANK PLUGS, MODERATE RUST AND CORROSION IN THE CYLINDER BARRELS, HEAVY DEPOSITS ON THE PISTON HEADS, AND MODERATE SCORING OF THE PISTON SKIRTS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S PARENTS, THE ENGINE WOULD "POP" WHEN IT WAS FIRST STARTED AND THE PILOT HAD THE IDLE SET FASTER THAN NORMAL TO KEEP IT FROM RUNNING ROUGH.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 201 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin O-335-5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Amagon AR
- Destination: Amagon AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.