Bell 47G3B1 accident near Cove Gap, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1988
On May 30, 1988 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Bell 47G3B1 (helicopter), registered N48181, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cove Gap, Pennsylvania. 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 30, 1988 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cove Gap, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G3B1 · all 47G3B1s on the register
- Registration
- N48181 · no longer on the register · serial 3813
- 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 HELICOPTER PLT WAS TAKING OFF FROM AN AREA SURROUNDED BY TREES & BUILDINGS FOR A LOCAL SPRAY OPERATION. THE WIND WAS CALM. REPORTEDLY, DURING THE ATTEMPTED DEPARTURE, THE PLT 'EXHAUSTED ALL POWER AVAILABLE THEN MADE RIGHT TURN TO RETURN TO FIELD.' AFTER TURNING, THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A POWER LINE THAT CROSSED THE FIELD NEAR ITS EDGE, THEN THE HELICOPTER CRASHED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,319 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1988; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-B1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.