Bell 47G3B-1 accident near Benoit, Mississippi, June 15, 1988
On June 15, 1988 at about 12:10 pm local time, a Bell 47G3B-1 (helicopter), registered N73947, was substantially damaged in an accident near Benoit, Mississippi. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 15, 1988 · about 12:10 pm local time
- Place
- Benoit, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G3B-1 · all 47G3B-1s on the register
- Registration
- N73947 · no longer on the register · serial 2821
- 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 PLT SAID THE ENGINE MISFIRED THREE TIMES DURING TAKEOFF AND LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE HELICOPTER SETTLED INTO A RICE FIELD AND THE DAMAGED SPRAY BOOMS BECAME ENTANGLED. THE HELICOPTER NOSED OVER IN THE HIGH VEGETATION. THE PLT STATED THE ENGINE ACCELERATED AND SHUTDOWN AS THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR BOWL REVEALED RUST. TWO 1/4 INCH PARTICLES OF RUST WERE LYING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL. NO WATER WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE OR FUEL SYSTEM.
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; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 13,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,673 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1987; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-B1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gray'S Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from GLH, 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.