Bell 47G-2A accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, July 30, 1994
On July 30, 1994 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2A (helicopter), registered N6749D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona. 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 REFUEL APPROPRIATELY, THE ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED AT THE TIME THE ENGINE STOPPAGE OCCURRED WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1994 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2A · all 47G-2As on the register
- Registration
- N6749D · registry record · serial 2240
- 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 PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD JUST FINISHED AN APPLICATION RUN AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING UP AND TURNING RIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE SPUTTERED BRIEFLY AND QUIT. WHILE AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET AND AN AIRSPEED OF 40 KNOTS, THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM. ACCORDING TO A COMPANY MECHANIC, THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANK. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED AND REFUELED, THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,146 hours in all; 6,800 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 14,841 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,277 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 30, 1994; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NONE Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from PHX, 10 miles away
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.