Bell 47G accident near Donna, Texas, April 17, 2019
On April 17, 2019 at about 4:08 pm local time, a 1967 Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N96671, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Donna, Texas. 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 pilot's failure to maintain altitude during an agricultural application flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2019 · about 4:08 pm local time
- Place
- Donna, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G 3B1, built 1967 · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N96671 · no longer on the register · serial 3539
- 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 helicopter pilot reported that, during an agricultural application flight and while heading east about 3 ft above ground level, the "wind suddenly shifted, a gust of wind [came] from the west," and the helicopter "settled." The pilot increased power and raised the collective, but the helicopter impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that the helicopter was equipped with a muffler, which he believed adversely affected the engine's performance. However, correspondence with the helicopter's certificate holder stated that there would "be no reduction of horsepower with the muffler installed if done as per the instructions per the STC [supplemental type certificate]." An automated weather observation station located 5 nautical miles east of the accident site reported that, about 8 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 180° at 16 knots, gusting to 25 knots and that, about 32 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 180° at 16 knots, gusting to 26 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,500 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 12,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 14, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TXW Weslaco TX at 12:40 pm
- Destination: TXW Weslaco TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 16 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KTXW, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 15, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weight and Balance Email | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.