# Accident 20020624013229A: Bell 47G2A, La Belle, FL, June 24, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 24, 2002, 09:00 local time
- Place: La Belle, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: WOBG
- Location: 26.7442° N, 81.4331° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7442&lon=-81.4331&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8486E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8486E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-2A (registry code 1181012, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G2A
- Reported engine: LYC VO435*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,540 total, 350 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL02LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020624013229A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JUNE 24, 2002, AT 0900 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 47G-2A HELICOPTER, N8486E, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY AIRWORK ENTERPRISES OF FLORIDA, INC., COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES WHILE MANEUVERING IN A GROVE IN LA BELLE, FLORIDA. THE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 137 WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN THE GROVE IN LA BELLE, FLORIDA, ABOUT 0800. THE PILOT WAS EXECUTING SWATH RUNS TO APPLY HERBICIDE SOLUTIONS TO WEED PLANTS. WHILE FINISHING WITH THE SECOND LOAD OF SPRAY, THE PILOT MANEUVERED TO TURN THE HELICOPTER AROUND AND STRUCK UNMARKED POWER LINES APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS NOT AWARE THE WIRES WERE THERE. THE PILOT THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, AND IT CAME DOWN ON ITS SIDE AND IMPACTED TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE HELICOPTER. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED, THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEPARATED, THE CANOPY WAS SHATTERED, AND ONE SKID WAS SEPARATED. (-23) THE PILOT WAS EXECUTING SWATH RUNS TO APPLY HERBICIDE SOLUTIONS TO WEED PLANTS. WHILE FINISHING WITH THE SECOND LOAD OF SPRAY, THE PILOT MANEUVERED TO TURN THE HELICOPTER AROUND AND STRUCK UNMARKED POWER LINES APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS NOT AWARE THE WIRES WERE THERE. THE PILOT THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, AND IT CAME DOWN ON ITS SIDE AND IMPACTED TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE HELICOPTER.                                             (.4) ON JUNE 24, 2002, AT 0900 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 47G-2A HELICOPTER, N8486E, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY AIRWORK ENTERPRISES OF FLORIDA, INC., COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES WHILE MANEUVERING IN A GROVE IN LA BELLE, FLORIDA. THE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 137 WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN THE GROVE IN LA BELLE, FLO                          RIDA, ABOUT 0800. THE PILOT WAS EXECUTING SWATH RUNS TO APPLY HERBICIDE SOLUTIONS TO WEED PLANTS. WHILE FINISHING WITH THE SECOND LOAD OF SPRAY, THE PILOT MANEUVERED TO TURN THE HELICOPTER AROUND AND STRUCK UNMARKED POWER LINES APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS NOT AWARE THE WIRES WERE THERE. THE PILOT THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, AND IT CAME DOWN ON ITS SIDE AND IMPACTED TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE HELICOPTER. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED, THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEPARATED, THE CANOPY WAS SHATTERED, AND ONE SKID WAS SEPARATED.

## 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 ATL02LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA128), Jun 24, 2002: Bell 47G-2A (N8486E), La Belle, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain visual lookout while maneuvering during an aerial application, which resulted in an in-flight collision with power lines and uncontrolled descent into terrain.

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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