Bell 47-G5A accident near Belle Glade, Florida, December 7, 1992
On December 7, 1992 at about 6:58 pm local time, a Bell 47-G5A (helicopter), registered N7925J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belle Glade, Florida (Belle Glade airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER IN FLIGHT DECISION OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO ATTEMPT AN AGRICULTURAL TURN WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO ACCOMPLISH THE MANEUVER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITIES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 1992 · about 6:58 pm local time
- Place
- Belle Glade, Florida · Belle Glade · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47-G5A · all 47-G5As on the register
- Registration
- N7925J · registry record · serial 25041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING FAST ACROSS THE AIRPORT TO REPOSITION THE HELICOPTER WHEN HE ATTEMPTED A SIMULATED AGRICULTURAL TURN AT HOVER ALTITUDE. THE LEFT SPRAY BOOM AND THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN. THE PILOT REDUCED THROTTLE AND A HARD LANDING OCCURRED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,478 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 30, 1992; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Crop Care INC.
The flight
- Departed from: X10 at 6:57 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from PBI, 21 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 N7925J 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.