# Accident 20110821017499A: Bell 47G-4, Los Banos, CA, August 21, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 21, 2011, 06:51 local time
- Place: Los Banos, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: U4LG
- Location: 37.0581° N, 120.8497° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0581&lon=-120.8497&mi=10
- Aircraft: N948DS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N948DS-2018-01-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-4 (registry code 1181030, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-4
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,610 total, 125 in this make and model, 310 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11CA398](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA398) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110821017499A

## Narrative

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

HALFWAY THROUGH A CLEANUP SWATH RUN OF THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY THE PILOT HIT A POWER POLE WITH THE ROTOR BLADES.  THE PILOT HAD PREVIOUSLY SPRAYED THE FIELD ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND KNEW WHERE THE POWER POLES WERE.  HE HAD SHUT OFF SPRAY MOMENTARILLY FOR BEE BOXES AND STRUCK THE POLE RIGHT AFTER TURNING ON THE SPRAY AGAIN.

## 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 WPR11CA398](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA398), Aug 21, 2011: Bell 47G-4 (N948DS), Los Banos, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power poles while maneuvering during low-altitude operations.

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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