Aviation Crash Map

Bell 47G-2 N4779U

12 April 1990 · Harrisburg, Arkansas, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 12 April 1990 at about 06:45 local time, a Bell 47G-2 registered N4779U, operated by Barr, Donald M, was involved in an accident near Harrisburg, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 06:45
Classification
Accident
Location
Harrisburg, Arkansas, United States
Coordinates
35.5601, -90.7194
Aircraft
Bell 47G-2
Registration
N4779U
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Barr, Donald M
Operating rule
Part 137: Agricultural
Purpose of flight
Other Work Use
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Harrisburg → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Night/Dark
NTSB number
MKC90LA083

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE GENERATOR, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE OVER A PEACH ORCHARD TO PREVENT FROST DAMAGE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIMMED. ALSO, HE REPORTED THAT WITH THE RESTRICTED INSTRUMENT VISIBILITY, THE HELICOPTER 'GOT BEHIND THE POWER CURVE' AND THE ROTOR RPM DECAYED. SUBSEQUENTLY, A RUN-ON LANDING WAS MADE, AND THE HELICOPTER WAS DAMAGED. A POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE GENERATOR HAD FAILED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 47 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 Nov 1990 Bell 47J-2
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4 May 1990 Bell 47G
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16 Jun 1990 Bell 47G-3B1
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Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
no coordinates
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2 Apr 1990 Bell 47G-3B-2
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Hillsboro, Oregon, United States Western Helicopter Service Serious injuries -
15 Nov 1990 Bell 47-G3-B
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Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States
no coordinates
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2 Sep 1990 Bell 47G-3B1
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Canon City, Colorado, United States - Minor injuries -

All 1,633 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
18 Mar 1990 Volksplane WE-1
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1 Jun 1990 Aero Commander S-2R
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17 Apr 1990 Piper PA32RT-300
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30 Apr 1990 Beechcraft J-35
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Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States - Fatal 1
23 Jul 1990 Piper PA-24
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28 Jul 1990 Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18
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All 170,864 records in United States