Bell 47G accident near New Egypt, New Jersey, May 1, 1982
On May 1, 1982 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N1002P, was destroyed in an accident near New Egypt, New Jersey. 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
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 1, 1982 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- New Egypt, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N1002P · no longer on the register · serial 163
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO FINISH SPRAYING THE FIELD AND HAD ONLY TWO PASSES REMAINING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. PASSES WERE MADE TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH WITH THE WIND FROM THE WEST AT 5 TO 10 KNOTS. AFTER COMPLETING A PASS TO THE SOUTH, HE PULLED UP TO CLEAR TALL TREES AT THE END AND MADE A TURN BACK TO THE NORTH IN PREPARATION TO RETURN TO THE FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS HEADED BACK TOWARD THE FIELD AND WAS OVER THE TREES WHEN HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS HEADING INTO THE TREES. HE STATED THAT HE TRIED REDUCING THE COLLECTIVE TO INCREASE THE ROTOR AND ENGINE RPM, BUT THAT DID NOT STOP THE DESCENT. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK A TREE AND THE HELICOPTER CRASHED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,260 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 4,470 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,846 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-350A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Duffey'S Air Crop
The flight
- Departed from: New Egypt NJ at 9:00 am
- Destination: New Egypt NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 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.