Bell 47G-3B-2 accident near Milton-Freewatr, Oregon, June 12, 1987
On June 12, 1987 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B-2 (helicopter), registered N2219W, was destroyed in an accident near Milton-Freewatr, Oregon. 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
- June 12, 1987 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Milton-Freewatr, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B-2 · all 47G-3B-2s on the register
- Registration
- N2219W · no longer on the register · serial 6746
- 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 WAS HOVERING UP RISING TERRAIN AT A SLOW AIRSPEED, AT 15 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHILE ON AN AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING FLIGHT AND ENCOUNTERED SETTLING WITH POWER. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND 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: 6,977 hours in all; 6,977 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 6,927 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,454 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 1987; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TV0-435 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Milton Freewatr OR at 6:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from ALW, 10 miles away
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.