Aviation Crash Map

Bell 47G N8505F

19 May 2005 · Twin Brooks, South Dakota, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 19 May 2005 at about 23:00 local time, a Bell 47G registered N8505F was involved in an accident near Twin Brooks, South Dakota, 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 23:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Twin Brooks, South Dakota, United States
Coordinates
45.2306, -96.5661
Aircraft
Bell 47G
Registration
N8505F
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 137: Agricultural
Purpose of flight
Aerial Application
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Summit → Milbank
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CHI05CA147

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate lookout and his failure to maintain clearance with the power lines. A factor was the low altitude at which the helicopter was operating.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter collided with power lines during an aerial application flight. The pilot reported that he saw the power lines just prior to contacting them. He stated the lines hit the bubble then they traveled over the top of the helicopter contacting the main rotor shaft. He stated the helicopter then settled in a level attitude onto the tracks. The pilot stated he was spraying for the purpose of weed control along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad when the accident occurred. The pilot stated he was about 2.75 miles into the 3 mile run when the helicopter contacted the lines. The pilot reported that he saw a pole to his left, but it was off in the distance. The pole on his right, which he did not see, was nestled in a group of trees. The pilot reported he was flying at an altitude of 15 to 20 feet above the tracks at an airspeed of 43 to 45 miles per hour. He stated the bubble was clean and the sun was to his back as he flew to the east.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 47 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
10 Sep 2005 Bell 47G
N862Z
Swifton, Arkansas, United States Sissom and Woods Farms, Inc Serious injuries -
5 Jul 2005 Bell 47G-2A
N38926
Oroville, Washington, United States - No injuries -
13 Sep 2005 Bell 47G-3B-1
N24SD
Rock Springs, Wyoming, United States - No injuries -
15 Sep 2005 Bell 47G-3B
N8483E
Summerville, Tennessee, United States Billy G Meeks Minor injuries -
19 Jun 2005 Bell 47G-3B-1
N8554F
Brewster, Washington, United States - Minor injuries -
15 Jul 2005 Bell 47G-4A
N4087L
Black Oak, Arkansas, United States Custom Air LLC No injuries -

All 1,633 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
5 Jul 2005 Rockwell S-2R
N3211R
Bristol, South Dakota, United States Dakota Air Spray Inc Fatal 1
7 Dec 2005 Cessna 310Q
N8403F
Pierre, South Dakota, United States Air Max Airlines No injuries -
6 Oct 2005 Creed RV-4
N149KC
Mitchell, South Dakota, United States Gregory L. Schultz No injuries -
9 Sep 2005 Piper PA-28-235
N8523W
Faulkton, South Dakota, United States - Fatal 1
19 Sep 2005 Stinson 108-1
N8495K
Tea, South Dakota, United States - No injuries -
15 Sep 2005 Bell 206B
N2995W
Elk Point, South Dakota, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States