Bell 47G accident near Plainsboro, New Jersey, May 15, 1983
On May 15, 1983 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N6597D, was destroyed in an accident near Plainsboro, 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 15, 1983 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Plainsboro, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N6597D · registry record · serial 1017
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AFTER A TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED. THE PLT LOST TAIL ROTOR CONTROL DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER. THE METALLURGIST REPORT OF EXAMINATION AND DISCOVERY OF FATIGUE FRACTURE AFTER THE ACCIDENT IS A PART OF THE FACTUAL REPORT. THE SHAFT THAT FAILED IS P/N 47644179-9.
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; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,500 hours in all; 8,500 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 140 in the last 30 days; 10,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1983; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 60-350-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; ovct
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 64°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.