Bell 47D-1 accident near Clewiston, Florida, October 4, 1991
On October 4, 1991 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Bell 47D-1 (helicopter), registered N3655F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clewiston, 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 PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WHILE MANEUVERING RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH A GUY WIRE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1991 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Clewiston, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D-1 · all 47D-1s on the register
- Registration
- N3655F · no longer on the register · serial 45
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PULLING UP FOLLOWING A SPRAY PASS EITHER THE LT SKID OR SPRAY BOOM CONTACTED A GUY WIRE WHICH THEN BROKE & CONTACTED THE MAIN & TAIL ROTOR BLADES. DURING THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED INVERTED & IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PLT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE HELICOPTER.
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: 1,741 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 1,680 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,685 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 18, 1991; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V4-200CS2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Allied Helicopter Service, INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.