# Accident 20010726019339A: Bell 47G2, Wheeler, WI, July 26, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 26, 2001, 09:40 local time
- Place: Wheeler, WI
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: CUHG
- Location: 45.0393° N, 91.9009° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0393&lon=-91.9009&mi=10
- Aircraft: N986B (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI01LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA243) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010726019339A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JULY 26, 2001, AT 0940 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 47G-2, N986B, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH POWER LINES AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN NEAR WHEELER, WISCONSIN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 137 AND WAS NOT ON A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS FATALLY INJURED.  THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WHEELER, WISCONSIN, AT EXACT TIME UNKNOWN.  ACCORDING TO A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT, "HE (THE HELICOPTER) WAS COME (COMING) FROM THE EAST & WENT TO CLEAR HIGH LINES AND HIT TOP WIRE AND WENT INTO GROUD (GROUND) AND I RAN DOWN TO CHOPPER AND SEEN FIRE TRIED TO PUT OUT." ACCORDING TO ANOTHER WITNESS, "I HERD (HEARD), A POWER POLE KRACK (CRACK).  I SAW THE POWER LINES SHAKING.  THEN I SAW THE HELICOPTER HIT THE GROUND AND START ON FIRE."                                                             (-23) AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINE WHILE MANEUVERING DURING THE APPLICATION OF AGRICULTURAL SPRAY.  ROTOR CLIPPED OFF TAIL BOOM CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

## 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 CHI01LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA243), Jul 26, 2001: Bell 47G-2 (N986B), Wheeler, WI, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from the power transmission line. A factor to the accident was the power transmission line.

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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