# Accident 19980610020299A: Bell 47G3B1, Lecenter, MN, June 10, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 10, 1998, 12:00 local time
- Place: Lecenter, MN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: JRVL
- Location: 44.3792° N, 93.7291° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3792&lon=-93.7291&mi=10
- Aircraft: N73284, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73284-2013-08-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-1 (registry code 1181028, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TVO-435-GIA (registry code 41526, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,122 total, 104 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA198) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980610020299A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DURING SPRAY OPS A SKID CAUGHT ON A POWER LINE. CABLE WRAPPED AROUND COCKPIT AND ROTOR. SHEARED TAIL. HIT A DITCH.(.4) ON JUNE 10, 1998, AT 1200 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME (CDT), A BELL 47G, N73284, FLOWN BY A COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER PILOT COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT IN LE CENTER, MINNESOTA. THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL 14 CFR PART 137 FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN LE CENTER, MINNESOTA. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE SPRAYING "DITCH BANKS" THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED A WIRE WHICH WAS EMBEDDED IN HEAVY VEGETATION. HE CONTINUED TO REPORT "THE WIRE BROKE & FOULED THE ROTOR BLADES. THEN THE AIRCRAFT & I HIT THE GROUND." AN INSPECTOR FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE REPORTED THE PILOT WAS SPRAYING ALONG A CREEK BED WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE WIRE WHICH WAS CONTACTED WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET ABOVE THE TERRAIN (CREEK BED) AND THE POLES ON WHICH THE WIRE WAS STRUNG WERE HIDDEN BY VEGETATION. THE INSPECTOR STATED THE PILOT WAS AWARE OF THE WIRE, BUT DID NOT SEE IT DURING THE SWATCH RUN. HE STATED THE WIRE TWISTED AROUND THE TRANSMISSION AND MAIN ROTOR BLADES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA198), Jun 10, 1998: Bell 47G (N73284), Le Center, MN, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the wire. A factor associated with the accident was the wire which the helicopter contacted.

## Other reports on N73284 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19910611021339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910611021339A), Jun 11, 1991: Bell 47G3B1 (N73284), Lasalle, MN, Substantial damage. Caught spray boom on crop being sprayed. Caused helicopter to roll over.
- [Accident 19800823036989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800823036989A), Aug 23, 1980: Bell 47G2 (N73284), Sunnyside, WA, Substantial damage. Helicopter was lifting off from platform when failure of clutch occurred.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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