Bell 47J-2 accident near Corcoran, California, June 25, 1982
On June 25, 1982 at about 6:01 pm local time, a Bell 47J-2 (helicopter), registered N1141W, was destroyed in an accident near Corcoran, California (El Rico airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 25, 1982 · about 6:01 pm local time
- Place
- Corcoran, California · El Rico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47J-2 · all 47J-2s on the register
- Registration
- N1141W · no longer on the register · serial 3119
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF FROM A LANDING DOLLY, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT. HE REALIZED THAT HE HAD A TAIL ROTOR FAILURE, BUT REPORTED THAT HE WAS HALF OVER THE DOLLY AND HEADED TOWARD A JET RANGER AND A FUEL SYSTEM. HE STATED THAT HE PULLED BACK INSTEAD OF CHOPPING THE THROTTLE, BUT THEN THE HELICOPTER TURNED TOWARD A HANGER. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASHED IN A COTTON FIELD AWAY FROM THE BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN BURNING, BUT THE OCCUPANTS WERE HELPED OUT OF THE COCKPIT BY OTHER PERSONNEL.
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: 1,820 hours in all; 1,820 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,800 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-B1B3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: COR Corcoran CA at 11:01 am
- Destination: COR Corcoran CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,770 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.