Bell 47G-3B-1 accident near Keystone Hgts., Florida, May 30, 1989
On May 30, 1989 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 (helicopter), registered N53SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Keystone Hgts., Florida (Keystone Airpark airport). 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 TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM BECAME DISCONNECTED DUE TO A BENT TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. THE TREES CONTRIBUTED TO THE HELICOPTER DAMAGE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1989 · about 12:45 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Keystone Hgts., Florida · Keystone Airpark · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B-1 · all 47G-3B-1s on the register
- Registration
- N53SP · registry record · serial 67-17111
- 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 RPRTD THAT WHILE DEPG ON A SPRAYING OPN, THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE RGT & LEFT PEDAL APPLICATION WOULD NOT CORRECT THE YAW. HE THEN PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING, SUBSEQUENTLY PULLING THE COLLECTIVE TO CUSHION IMPACT WITH TREES. A POST-ACDNT EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT HAD BECOME BENT BETWEEN THE #1 & #2 BEARINGS, ALLOWING THE FWD SHAFT TO PULL FROM THE COUPLING.
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: 11,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-G1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Valley Air
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:48 pm from GNV, 15 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.
Other NTSB records under N53SP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N53SP on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Bell 47 478 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Bell 3,080 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-G1A 2 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Keystone Heights Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 985 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,705 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N53SP 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/MIA89LA165.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.