Bell 47G accident near Miltonfreewater, Oregon, September 12, 1991
On September 12, 1991 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N73865, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miltonfreewater, 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
PILOT FACTOR IN THAT THE PILOT FAILED TO INSURE THERE WAS ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES FOR A SAFE TAKEOFF. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 1991 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Miltonfreewater, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N73865 · no longer on the register · serial 7
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE RIGHT SIDE SPRAY BOOM CAUGHT ON A TREE WHICH PULLED THE HELICOPTER TO 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,816 hours in all; 485 in this make and model; 280 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V350 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bma INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N73865 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.