Bell OH-13E accident near Jonesboro, Arkansas, May 29, 1985
On May 29, 1985 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Bell OH-13E (helicopter), registered N29WL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jonesboro, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 29, 1985 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jonesboro, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-13E
- Registration
- N29WL · no longer on the register · serial 520
- 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 PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD ON SOFT TERRAIN, BUT THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM & SCATTERED PARTS AHEAD OF & TO THE RGT OF THE FLT PATH. THE FLAGMAN WAS APRX 100 FT AHEAD OF THE IMPACT POINT & WAS STRUCK BY FLYING DEBRIS. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK AFTER THE ACCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT DID NOT POSSESS AN FAA HELICOPTER RATING NOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION CERTIFICATE. ALSO, HE REPORTED THAT THE FUEL GAGES WERE NOT RELIABLE.
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
- Flight time: 2,252 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 2,161 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,182 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1985; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:00 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.