Bell 47G 5A N715BH

Summary

On 18 February 2014 at about 16:30 local time, a Bell 47G 5A registered N715BH, operated by Wilbur-Ellis Co, was involved in an accident near Greenfield, California, 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

18 February 2014 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Greenfield, California, United States

Nearest airport

King City (KIC)

Coordinates

36.2808, -121.1669

Aircraft

Bell 47G 5A

Registration

N715BH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1973

Engines

1

Operator

Wilbur-Ellis Co

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

King City → Greenfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA115

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power pole during low-altitude maneuvering flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the 2 hours leading up to the accident, the pilot of the agriculture and pest control category helicopter had sprayed about 40 acres of crops, having refueled once. He stated that during the last pass of his current field he misjudged the distance between the main rotor blades and a power pole. The main rotor blades struck the pole, and the pilot performed a forced landing into the field. During the landing, the helicopter rolled over, sustaining substantial damage to the firewall, tailboom, and cabin structure. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation, and further stated that the accident could have been avoided if he had flown over the pole rather than attempting to fly around it.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.