Aviation Crash Map

Bell 47G-2A N8486E

24 June 2002 · La Belle, Florida, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 24 June 2002 at about 13:00 local time, a Bell 47G-2A registered N8486E was involved in an accident near La Belle, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. 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 13:00
Classification
Accident
Location
La Belle, Florida, United States
Coordinates
26.7442, -81.4331
Aircraft
Bell 47G-2A
Registration
N8486E
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 137: Agricultural
Purpose of flight
Aerial Application
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
La Belle → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ATL02LA128

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain visual lookout while maneuvering during an aerial application, which resulted in an in-flight collision with power lines and uncontrolled descent into terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was executing swath runs to apply herbicide solutions to weed plants. While finishing with the second load of spray, the pilot maneuvered to turn the helicopter around and struck unmarked power lines approximately 75 to 100 feet above the ground. The pilot then lost control of the helicopter, and it came down on its side and impacted trees. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction. Examination of the wreckage revealed the main rotor system was damaged, the tail boom was separated, the canopy was shattered, and one skid was separated.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 47 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
11 Jun 2002 Bell 47G-2A-1
N8542D
Jordan, Minnesota, United States - Minor injuries -
25 Sep 2002 Bell 47G-2
N5193B
Edmondson, Arkansas, United States Ag Copters Inc. Fatal 1
20 Aug 2002 Bell 47-D1
N4702S
Union, South Carolina, United States - Minor injuries -
25 Aug 2002 Bell 47G-2
N8478H
Oasis, California, United States - Serious injuries -
1 Dec 2002 Bell 47G-3B-1
N48020
Panaca, Nevada, United States Bureau of Land Managment No injuries -
21 May 2002 Bell 47G
N72MU
Marion, Alabama, United States Aerial Application Technologies LLC No injuries -

All 1,633 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
13 Nov 2002 Cessna 182Q
N95745
Orlando, Florida, United States - Minor injuries -
12 Jun 2002 Agusta A119
N911SL
Okeechobee, Florida, United States - No injuries -
20 Sep 2002 Cessna 172P
N612CB
Lutz, Florida, United States Troy Mason Heidel No injuries -
21 Sep 2002 Beagle B-206 SERIES 2
N86GW
McAlpin, Florida, United States - Fatal 1
17 Jan 2002 Mooney M20J
N201XL
Lake Placid, Florida, United States - Minor injuries -
15 Jun 2002 Piper PA-46-310P
N9143B
Osteen, Florida, United States - Fatal 3

All 170,864 records in United States