Bell 47D1 accident near Loxahatchee, Florida, November 2, 1989
On November 2, 1989 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Bell 47D1 (helicopter), registered N93067, was substantially damaged in an accident near Loxahatchee, Florida. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM AFTER PULLING UP FROM A SWATH RUN. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE PRESENCE OF TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 1989 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Loxahatchee, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D1 · all 47D1s on the register
- Registration
- N93067 · registry record · serial 5501
- 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 AFTER COMPLETING A SWATH RUN, HE 'PULLED UP AND HELD BACK LONGER TO CLEAR TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD.' THE HELICOPTER LOST AIRSPEED FASTER THAN THE PLT REALIZED. HE STATED THAT AT THE TOP OF THE TURN, THE HELICOPTER FELT LIKE IT WOULD SLIDE BACKWARDS, SO HE PUSHED THE CYCLIC FORWARD, APPLIED FULL POWER & TRIED TO FLY OUT OF THE SITUATION. HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER CONTD TO DESCEND. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT IMPACTED WITH TREES & WAS DAMAGED.
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: 370 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N93067 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.