Bell 47-D-1 accident near Fayette, Mississippi, April 2, 1992
On April 2, 1992 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Bell 47-D-1 (helicopter), registered N322A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fayette, Mississippi. 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 COMMANDS FAILURE TO INSURE THE PROPER FUEL QUANTITY FOR THE FLIGHT WAS PLACED ON THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS FAILURE TO MONITOR FUEL QUANTITY DURING FLIGHT RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1992 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fayette, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47-D-1 · all 47-D-1s on the register
- Registration
- N322A · no longer on the register · serial WH1001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED THAT HE TOPPED THE FUEL TANKS TO THE 29 GALLON LEVEL PRIOR TO FLIGHT. ONE HOUR AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENG QUIT. HE STATED THE FUEL STRAINER DRAIN HAD LEAKED CAUSING FUEL EXHAUSTION AND LOSS OF POWER. TWO FAA INSPECTORS WHO INSPECTED THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PRE OR POST CRASH FUEL LEAKAGE. THE FUEL STRAINER DRAIN VALVE WAS FOUND TO OPERATE NORMALLY WITH NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 21,084 hours in all; 7,373 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 21,084 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,841 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 21, 1992; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin O-235-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from JAN, 31 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.