Bell 47G-4 accident near N. Greenville, Florida, June 11, 1982
On June 11, 1982, a Bell 47G-4 (helicopter), registered N1151W, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Greenville, Florida. 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 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 11, 1982
- Place
- N. Greenville, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-4 · all 47G-4s on the register
- Registration
- N1151W · no longer on the register · serial 3328
- 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 TOOK OFF AT ABOUT 1922 TO DISPENSE A NON-TOXIC LIQUID CHEMICAL AND FERTILIZER ON A NEARBY MELON FIELD. AFTER ONE NORMAL SWATH RUN ON A NORTHERLY HEADING, HE PULLED UP AND BEGAN A PROCEDURE TURN TO THE LEFT (WEST). HE STATED THE AFTERNOON SUN DISTRACTED HIS ATTENTION FROM THE ROTOR AND ENGINE RPM AT THE TOP OF THE TURN. DURING REENTRY TO THE FIELD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DESCENDING TURN, HE INITIATED A FLARE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID GROUND CONTACT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY MECHANCIAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,569 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 1,325 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,080 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N. Greenville FL at 7:22 pm
- Destination: N. Greenville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 194°F (90°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.
Other NTSB records under N1151W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.