Bell-Continental Copters 47G N7153

Summary

On 27 July 1990 at about 17:15 local time, a Bell-Continental Copters 47G registered N7153, operated by BUG Busters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Clayhatchee, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 July 1990 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Clayhatchee, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

31.2998, -85.7092

Aircraft

Bell-Continental Copters 47G

Registration

N7153

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

BUG Busters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL90DKJ07

1 person was seriously injured.

FAILURE OF THE ENGINE MAGNETO(S). THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN (TREES) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLT, THE ENG LOST POWER AS HE MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER (PULLED UP) OVER A TREE LINE. AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING WAS MADE IN THE TREES. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT MAGNETO WOULD NOT FIRE; HOWEVER, IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER ITS COIL WAS RELACED. ENG RECORDS INDICATED THE MAGNETOS HAD BEEN OVERHAULED ON 1/14/80, APRX 96 FLT HRS BEFORE THE ACDNT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.