Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Benoit, Mississippi 38725
Wednesday, June 15, 1988 7:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT SAID THE ENGINE MISFIRED THREE TIMES DURING TAKEOFF AND LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE HELICOPTER SETTLED INTO A RICE FIELD AND THE DAMAGED SPRAY BOOMS BECAME ENTANGLED. THE HELICOPTER NOSED OVER IN THE HIGH VEGETATION. THE PLT STATED THE ENGINE ACCELERATED AND SHUTDOWN AS THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR BOWL REVEALED RUST. TWO 1/4 INCH PARTICLES OF RUST WERE LYING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL. NO WATER WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE OR FUEL SYSTEM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/15/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 710
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BENOIT
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38725
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 655 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID GLH
Elevation of weather observation facility 130
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 300
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 418
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 15 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36295
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:50AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N73947
NTSB Number MIA88FA192
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47G3B-1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G3B-1
Aircraft Serial Number 2821
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 2 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 52
Airframe Hours 10673
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GRAY'S FLYING SERVICE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 259
Aircraft Owner City EDWARDS
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39066
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GRAY'S FLYING SERVICE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 259
Operator City EDWARDS
Operator State MS
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 39066
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 710
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --