20030715015279A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 47G-5 · Cleveland, MN · July 15, 2003

Date: July 15, 2003 · 07:35 local
Place: Cleveland, MN
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: CUHG
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N7925J
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI03LA210
Reported as: Bell 47G5
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 12,900 total2,000 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

N7925JRegistered now · Bell 47G-5S/N 25041 · Built 1971 Airframe modelBell 47G-5 Engine 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) On July 15, 2003, at 0735 central standard time, a Bell, BHT-47-G5, owned and operated by scott churchill, struck two powerlines while spraying herbicide (24D) in an area approximately 1.5 miles south of Cleveland, MN. VFR conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The commercially rated helicopter pilot had originated the flight at his base of operations in le sueur, MN approximately 35 minutes prior to the accident.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON JULY 15, 2003, AT 0735 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A BELL, BHT-47-G5, OWNED AND OPERATED BY SCOTT CHURCHILL, STRUCK TWO POWERLINES WHILE SPRAYING HERBICIDE (24D) IN AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES SOUTH OF CLEVELAND, MN. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, AND THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE COMMERCIALLY RATED HELICOPTER PILOT HAD ORIGINATED THE FLIGHT AT HIS BASE OF OPERATIONS IN LE SUEUR, MN APPROXIMATELY 35 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

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 CHI03LA210Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCleveland, MNThe pilot's inadequate visual lookout and low altitude flight when he failed to maintain altitude/clearance from the transmission wire. A factor contributing to the accident was the transmission wire.Jul 15, 2003 · Destroyed

Other reports on N7925J · 2

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

Accident 19961006031079AAutorot Descent (Rotorcraft) · Nunda, SDAircraft engine failed during aerial application and aircraft crashed in the field. (-23) no narrative. (.4) during the second agricultural load, a total loss of engine power occurred, and the pilot made an autorotative landing, but the helicopter was damaged…Oct 6, 1996 · Substantial damage Accident 19921207056359AAerial Taxi, Other Helicopter · Belle Grade, FLDuring aerial taxi to reposition ag helicopter in ramp tail struck ramp. Lost control impacted in a spin.Dec 7, 1992 · Substantial damage