# Accident 20010207001599A: Bell 47G5, Pixley, CA, February 7, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: February 7, 2001, 08:30 local time - Place: Pixley, CA - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only) - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Location: 35.9214° N, 119.3039° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9214&lon=-119.3039&mi=10 - Aircraft: N6260C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6260C) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bell 47G-5 (registry code 1181032, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G5 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 5,500 total, 300 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA093) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010207001599A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) PILOT WAS USING A TRUCK MOUNTED ELEVATED PLATFORM FOR TAKEOFF. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT WOULD NOSE THE HELO OVER TO AID IN FLYING INTO TRANSLATIONAL LIFT. ON THIS, THE FOURTH TAKEOFF (POSSIBLY OVER MAXIMUM GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT), 3-4 MINUTES APART, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT PRIOR TO HITTING THE GROUND WITH THE SKIDS. THE HELO BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR, SLIGHTLY SIDEWAYS WITH THE NOSE TO THE RIGHT, CAME BACK DOWN, DUG THE LEFT SKID AND ROLLED OVER. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WIND MAY HAVE SHIFTED. (.19) ON FEBRUARY 7, 2001, ABOUT 2001, ABOUT 0930 HOURS PST, A BELL 47G-5, N6260C, OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT, TOOK OFF FROM A TRUCK BED DURING AN AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION FLIGHT PERFORMED UNDER 14 CFR PART 137. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER CLIMBED A FEW FEET AND THE HE LOST CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE TRUCK AND ROLLED OVER. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AND THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM AN OPEN FIELD NEAR PIXLEY, CA. (.4) ON FEBRUARY 7, 2001, ABOUT 0830 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A BELL 47G-5, N6260C, TOOK OFF FROM A TRUCK-MOUNTED PLATFORM, CLIMBED A FEW FEET, SETTLED INTO THE GROUND, AND ROLLED OVER. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED BY SLYKERMAN AG AVIATION, AND IT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS NOT INJURED DURING THE AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION FLIGHT NEAR PIXLEY, CALIFORNIA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE FLIGHT WAS PERFORMED UNDER 14 CFR PART 137 AND WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE MISHAP. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE EXPERIENCED IN HIS RESTRICTED CATEGORY HELICOPTER. HE INDICATED THAT, ABOUT THE TIME OF THE MISHAP, THE SPEED OF THE LOCAL SURFACE WIND WAS BETWEEN ZERO AND 5 KNOTS. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION COORDINATOR VERBALLY REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN OPERATED BETWEEN 80 AND 100 POUNDS OVER ITS MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT. HE OPINED THAT THIS WEIGHT CONDITION MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HELICOPTER'S INABILITY TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO PASS THROUGH TRANSLATIONAL LIFT. ## 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 LAX01LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA093), Feb 7, 2001: Bell 47G-5 (N6260C), Pixley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of control during takeoff due to the helicopter's heavy gross weight condition that exceeded its lifting capability. ## Other reports on N6260C (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20110731017329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110731017329A), Jul 31, 2011: Bell 47G-5 (N6260C), Pixley, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted downwind takeoff from the top of a reloading truck after being reloaded during an aerial spraying operation. The helicopter settled to the… - [Incident 20000315002339I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000315002339I), Mar 15, 2000: Bell 47G5 (N6260C), Ducor, CA, Minor damage. (-23) On March 15, 2000, at about 1630, while conducted aerial application under FAR 137 the helicopter hit a telephone wire as it passed under the wire strung… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.