Bell UH-1B accident near Fellsmere, Florida, May 21, 1986
On May 21, 1986 at about 6:55 am local time, a Bell UH-1B (helicopter), registered N3879G, was destroyed in an accident near Fellsmere, Florida. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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
- May 21, 1986 · about 6:55 am local time
- Place
- Fellsmere, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B · all UH-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3879G · no longer on the register · serial 62-2053
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD ABOUT 350 LBS OF FUEL ONBOARD WHEN HE TOOK OFF ON HIS 4TH NIGHT CROP DUSTING MISSION. HE INDICATED THAT EACH MISSION IS 6 TO 8 MINS IN DURATION AND THAT THE AVERAGE FUEL CONSUMPTION IS ABOUT 570 LBS PER HR. HE STATED THAT THE 20 MIN LOW FUEL LEVEL WARNING LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR 3 TO 5 MINS WHEN THE ENG FAILED. THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING THE NIGHT FORCED LANDING ROLL. THE PLT STATED HE DID NOT THINK HE HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL BUT HE WAS NOT SURE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT HAD PERFORMED NORMAL PRIOR TO THE ENG FAILURE.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,837 hours in all; 513 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,501 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,990 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1986; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T-5311D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:21 am from VRB, 8 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.