Bell 47G-2A accident near Jackson, New Jersey, July 30, 2003
On July 30, 2003 at about 10:10 am local time, a Bell 47G-2A (helicopter), registered N7796C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, New Jersey. 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
Pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and failure to remove a pesticide spraying hose from the helicopter prior to takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2003 · about 10:10 am local time
- Place
- Jackson, New Jersey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2A · all 47G-2As on the register
- Registration
- N7796C · no longer on the register · serial 1486
- 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 performed two aerial application flights over the amusement park, and landed to reload chemicals for the third flight of the morning. He stated he was "in a hurry," and did not confirm that the right side chemical loading hose was disconnected from the helicopter, prior to takeoff for the third flight. As the pilot initiated takeoff, the loading hose "pulled" the helicopter downward, and it impacted the ground.
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: 8,526 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 18, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: East Coast Helicopter INC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Jackson NJ
- Destination: NONE Jackson NJ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 am from TTN
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.