Bell 47G5 N8591F

Summary

On 26 April 1990 at about 21:30 local time, a Bell 47G5 registered N8591F, operated by Plymouth Copters Corp., was involved in an accident near Marion, Massachusetts, 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.

Date

26 April 1990 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Marion, Massachusetts, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47G5

Registration

N8591F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Plymouth Copters Corp.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Plymouth → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC90DNA02

Nobody was injured.

IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS PERFORMING AN 'AG TURN' DURING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS WHEN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS NOTED. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO TREES AND BRUSH. THE PILOT STATED THAT 'CARBURETOR ICE WAS SUSPECTED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. CARBURETOR HEAT WAS APPLIED INTERMITTENTLY DURING THE DAY.' ON- SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO INDICATION OF MECHANICAL DIFFICULTY/MALFUNCTION; THERE WAS FUEL ON BOARD THE HELICOPTER, AND NO EVIDENCE OF CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. A POST- ACCIDENT ENGINE RUN WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH NO INDICATION OF POWER LOSS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.