Bell 47-D1 accident near Jasper, Florida, November 15, 1995
On November 15, 1995 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Bell 47-D1 (helicopter), registered N4702S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jasper, Florida. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR SYSTEM BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL DURING THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND ENGINE RUN-UP, AND THE CARBUETOR ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 1995 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jasper, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47-D1 · all 47-D1s on the register
- Registration
- N4702S · registry record · serial B-101R
- 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 PILOT STATED HE WAS MAKING AN APPROACH FOR LANDING AT A FIELD SITE WHEN THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND ROLLED THE THROTTLE TO THE FULL ON POSITION. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AND THE GROUND. REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT LOG BOOKS REVEALED THAT THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED 3 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE CARBURETOR WAS NOT APPROVED FOR USE BY THE FRANKLIN ENGINE COMPANY. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL VALVE REVEALED AN INCORRECT SPRING INSTALLED, AND THE CARBURETOR HEAT COULD NOT BE ACTIVATED FROM THE COCKPIT. THE CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART SHOWS THE POSSIBILITY OF CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS BASED ON THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO THE APPROACH, THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED THE BEFORE-LANDING CHECK WITHOUT THE AID OF A CHECKLIST, AND THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS NOT TURNED ON.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 531 hours in all; 412 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 475 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V335 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE FL at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from VAD, 35 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 N4702S 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.