On July 4, 1988, a Bell 47D1 (registration N903B) operated by Agri Flex, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Ruleville, MS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to complete an autorotation due to insufficient altitude and airspeed after an unexplained engine failure during aerial application operations. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft experienced an unexpected engine failure while conducting aerial application operations. The pilot attempted to autorotate but lacked sufficient altitude and airspeed, resulting in a hard landing and nose-over in a crop field.
What happened
During an aerial application flight involving the spraying of chemicals, the pilot reported that the aircraft engine quit unexpectedly. At the time of the failure, the aircraft was operating in a low-level agricultural environment.
The pilot immediately attempted to initiate an autorotation to maintain control and land safely. However, the aircraft was at an altitude and airspeed too low to complete the maneuver successfully. The aircraft impacted the ground hard in a field of crops and subsequently nosed over.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the engine was conducted to determine the cause of the power loss. The inspection did not reveal any mechanical defects or reasons that would explain the sudden cessation of power.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to complete an autorotation due to insufficient altitude and airspeed after an unexplained engine failure during aerial application operations.