Bell TH-13T accident near Quitman, Georgia, August 1, 1985
On August 1, 1985 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Bell TH-13T (helicopter), registered N31FG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quitman, Georgia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- August 1, 1985 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Quitman, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell TH-13T · all TH-13Ts on the register
- Registration
- N31FG · registry record · serial 3834
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT STATED THAT AFTER COMPLETING A LEFT TURN AT THE END OF A COTTON FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT YAWED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT AND THE YAW COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED WITH CYCLIC CONTROL. ANOTHER LEFT TURN AT THE OPPSITE END OF THE FIELD THE AIRCRAFT AGAIN YAWED TO THE LEFT. CONTROL WAS REGAINED AND AS A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS BEING MADE IN THE COTTON FIELD THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL ONTO ITS SIDE. POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE PRECRASH MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: 1,950 hours in all; 1,950 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 1,950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:10 pm from VLD, 15 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N31FG 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.