Bell 47G 5 N7089J

Summary

On 12 August 2014 at about 15:45 local time, a Bell 47G 5 registered N7089J, operated by Reynolds Aerial Service LLC, was involved in an accident near Mansfield, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 August 2014 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Mansfield, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

40.2025, -88.5114

Aircraft

Bell 47G 5

Registration

N7089J

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1971

Engines

1

Operator

Reynolds Aerial Service LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mansfield → Mansfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14LA423

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-altitude flight in gusting wind conditions following his use of a sedating medication.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was conducting an agricultural application flight in the helicopter and had just completed spraying a field. A witness near the accident site reported that he saw the helicopter flying low and then pass a tree line when a wind gust lifted the helicopter up and to the left directly into power lines. Weather conditions reported at an airport in the area included wind at 16 knots gusting to 21 knots at the time of the accident. Separated power lines were observed near the accident site, and a witness mark was melted into the leading edged of a main rotor blade, consistent with it contacting a power line. Recorded GPS data were consistent with low-altitude operations near the accident site. Based on the evidence, it is likely that, while the pilot was flying low-altitude operations in gusting wind conditions, he failed to maintain adequate clearance from power lines. Toxicology testing detected the sedating antihistamine diphenhydramine in the pilot's urine and in his heart blood. Although some degree of impairment from diphenhydramine cannot be completely ruled out, the pilot's behavior on the day of the accident, as evidenced by GPS data that shows he flew straight lines and made good coverage of the fields during the spraying, was consistent with his level of skill and experience. Therefore, it is unlikely that the pilot's impairment from diphenhydramine contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.