Bell 47G-3B (SOLOY CONVERSION) accident near New Hope, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1982
On May 10, 1982 at about 1:10 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B (SOLOY CONVERSION) (helicopter), registered N5449C, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Hope, Pennsylvania (Doylestown airport). 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 10, 1982 · about 1:10 pm local time
- Place
- New Hope, Pennsylvania · Doylestown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B (SOLOY CONVERSION) (SOLOY CON
- Registration
- N5449C · no longer on the register · serial 3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE MAKING A CLEANUP SWATH AROUND THE BOTTOM OF A HILL, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH WIRES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE WIRES WHILE HOLDING HIS HEAD IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO REDUCE THE EFFECT OF SUN-GLARE. AFTER HITTING THE WIRES, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER MOMENTARILY. HOWEVER, HE REGAINED CONTROL AND LANDED PAST THE WIRE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,742 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,860 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Belle Aire INC.
The flight
- Departed from: New Hope PA at 8:45 am
- Destination: New Hope PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 149°F (65°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.