Bell 47G-3B accident near Paxton, Nebraska, August 18, 1983
On August 18, 1983 at about 1:00 am local time, a Bell 47G-3B (helicopter), registered N73248, was destroyed in an accident near Paxton, Nebraska. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- August 18, 1983 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Paxton, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B · all 47G-3Bs on the register
- Registration
- N73248 · no longer on the register · serial 2780
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER LANDING ON A TRUCK PLATFORM, HE DID NOT DECREASE ROTOR RPM & DID NOT LOWER COLLECTIVE TO FLAT PITCH AS HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER A PIECE OF PAPER THAT HAD FALLEN TO THE FLOOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT. AS HE RELEASED THE CYCLIC CONTROL WITH HIS RIGHT HAND, THE ACFT SLIPPED TO THE RIGHT ACROSS THE PLATFORM'S STEEL SURFACE. THE PLT ADDED LEFT CYCLIC & APPLIED COLLECTIVE PITCH TO LIFT THE ACFT. THE RIGHT SKID CAUGHT ON THE PLATFORM FENCE & THE ACFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT OFF THE PLATFORM. UPON IMPACTING THE GROUND, THE ACFT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE PLT'S SON ASSISTED HIM IN ESCAPING FROM THE BURNING WRECKAGE.
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: 11,650 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 81 in the last 30 days; 11,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,860 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.