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20020824021989A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Bell 47G-2 · North Shore, CA · August 24, 2002

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
August 24, 2002 · 18:43 local
Place
North Shore, CA
Airport
Desert Air Sky Ranch
Operating rules
Agricultural (Part 137)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N8478H
NTSB investigation
NTSBLAX02LA262
Reported as
Bell 47G2
Fatal injuries
0
N8478HRegistered now · Bell 47G-2S/N 2214 · Built 1958Airframe modelBell 47G-2Engine modelLycoming VO-435 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) The operator of a Bell 47-G2 (N8478H, serial number 2214) struck power lines with his tail rotor while making a final pass during an aerial application of chemical nutrients in a field in oasis, CA. The single occupant sustained serious injury, suffering both a broken back and serious burns. The aircraft was virtually destroyed when it impacted the ground and caught fire some 100 yards from making contact with the power lines. (.19) on August 24, 2002, at 1843 pacific daylight time, a Bell 47G-2, N8478H, collided with power lines during aerial application maneuvering for a local citrus nursery near oasis, California. The helicopter, operated by salton sea air services under the provisions of 14 CFR part 137 as an agricultural crop dusting operation, sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The helicopter departed from a private strip near the accident site, and was scheduled to terminate at the private strip.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE OPERATOR OF A BELL 47-G2 (N8478H, SERIAL NUMBER 2214) STRUCK POWER LINES WITH HIS TAIL ROTOR WHILE MAKING A FINAL PASS DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OF CHEMICAL NUTRIENTS IN A FIELD IN OASIS, CA. THE SINGLE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURY, SUFFERING BOTH A BROKEN BACK AND SERIOUS BURNS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS VIRTUALLY DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND CAUGHT FIRE SOME 100 YARDS FROM MAKING CONTACT WITH THE POWER LINES. (.19) ON AUGUST 24, 2002, AT 1843 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 47G-2, N8478H, COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES DURING AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVERING FOR A LOCAL CITRUS NURSERY NEAR OASIS, CALIFORNIA. THE HELICOPTER, OPERATED BY SALTON SEA AIR SERVICES UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 137 AS AN AGRICULTURAL CROP DUSTING OPERATION, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE LOCAL AREA FLIGHT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED FROM A PRIVATE STRIP NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE, AND WAS SCHEDULED TO TERMINATE AT THE PRIVATE STRIP.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX02LA262Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportOasis, CAthe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout and clearance with power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.Aug 25, 2002 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8478H · 1

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

Incident 19890521032289ISfl Autorotation · San Juan, Puerto RicoPracticing power recovery auto rotation. Had directional control problems. Hard landing had tail rotor malfunction.May 21, 1989 · Minor damage