Bell 47D-1 accident near Fair Oaks, Arkansas, July 12, 1990
On July 12, 1990 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Bell 47D-1 (helicopter), registered N8117, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fair Oaks, Arkansas (Hess airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TAIL ROTOR CABLE DISENGAGEMENT DUE TO INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1990 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fair Oaks, Arkansas · Hess · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D-1 · all 47D-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8117 · registry record · serial K732
- 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 COMMERCIAL PLT SAID THAT WHILE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION HE FELT A VIBRATION IN THE AIRCRAFT. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO LEFT OR RIGHT PEDAL RESPONSE IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD. HE INITIATED A RIGHT TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRSTRIP AND THE HELICOPTER WOULD NOT RECOVER. IT CONTINUED TURNING RIGHT AND DESCENDED UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE TAIL ROTOR CABLE HAD BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE TAIL ROTOR PITCH DRUM AND HAD WRAPPED AROUND THE FLANGE OF THE PITCH CHANGE DRUM. THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE LOCKED IN THE RIGHT PEDAL POSITION.
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: 35,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 1990; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°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.
Other NTSB records under N8117 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.