Bell TH-13T accident near Phoenix, Arizona, December 8, 1982
On December 8, 1982 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Bell TH-13T (helicopter), registered N3001F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- December 8, 1982 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell TH-13T · all TH-13Ts on the register
- Registration
- N3001F · no longer on the register · serial 3663
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A PRACTICE SPRAY TURN, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING RECOVERY FROM A DESCENT BACK INTO THE FIELD. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE REPORTED WITH THE AIRFRAME, ENGINE OR WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE PILOT WAS QUOTED AS SAYING HE REFRAINED FROM PULLING ENOUGH POWER TO STOP THE DESCENT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO OVERBOOST THE ENGINE.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 568 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,224 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Cain Air INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Phoenix AZ at 9:20 am
- Destination: Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 149°F (65°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.