Continental Mk5A BELL 47 accident near Neligh, Nebraska, May 30, 1982
On May 30, 1982 at about 1:30 am local time, a Continental Mk5A BELL 47 (helicopter), registered N9008T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Neligh, Nebraska. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1982 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Neligh, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Continental Mk5A BELL 47
- Registration
- N9008T · no longer on the register · serial CCI-742
- 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 DEPARTED THE AIRPORT HELIPAD WITH 12 GALLONS OF FUEL. AFTER LANDING IN THE LOADING AREA, HE LEFT THE ENGINE AND SPRAY PUMPS RUNNING TO MIX THE SOLUTION IN HIS SPRAY TANKS. AFTER SPRAYING THE FIELD, HE RAN OUT OF FUEL ABOUT ONE MILE FROM HIS PLANNED TOUCHDOWN POINT ON THE AIRPORT. AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING WAS MADE IN A SOFT ALFALFA FIELD. AS THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN, IT STARTED TO NOSE OVER ON THE SOFT GROUND AND THE PILOT APPLIED AFT CYCLIC. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM AND SEVERED THE BOOM AND DAMAGED THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES.
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: 1,941 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 1,737 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: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Antelope CO. Farms Union Coop
The flight
- Departed from: Neligh NE at 8:30 pm
- Destination: Neligh NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.