Bell 47J accident near Labelle, Florida, August 26, 1983
On August 26, 1983 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Bell 47J (helicopter), registered N5824, was substantially damaged in an accident near Labelle, Florida. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- August 26, 1983 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Labelle, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47J · all 47Js on the register
- Registration
- N5824 · no longer on the register · serial 1731
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 150 FT, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION, BUT DURING THE LANDING, THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK TREES & THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PLT ESTIMATED THERE WAS 15 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD DURING THE PREFLIGHT, BUT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT VISUALLY CHECK FUEL LEVEL. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE FOUND LESS THAN MINIMAL FUEL & BELIEVED THE ENG STOPPED DUE TO LACK OF FUEL.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,327 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 6,803 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,565 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from FMX, 30 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.