# Accident 20130103000099A: Bell 47G-5A, Five Points, CA, January 3, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 3, 2013, 13:30 local time
- Place: Five Points, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 7MQG
- Location: 36.1996° N, 120.0899° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1996&lon=-120.0899&mi=10
- Aircraft: N14841, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14841-2018-02-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-5A (registry code 1181034, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-5A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING VO-435 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,300 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13CA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130103000099A

## Narrative

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

ON JANUARY 3, 2013 A BELL 47G5A WAS APPROACHING A FIELD TO SPRAY A HERBICIDE CALLED "PROWL".  THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE FIELD OF NEW GARLIC GOING UNDER THE 40 FOOT POWER LINES AND THE ROTOR DISC HIT A WOODED POLE AT ABOUT 10 FEET OFF THE GROUND AND SHEARED IT OFF.   THE RESULTING STRIKE ON THE HELICOPTER CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO HIT NOSE FIRST INTO THE GARLIC FIELD.  THE ROTOR BLADES AND TAIL SECTION SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND WERE LAYING ADJACENT TO THE MAIN CABIN OF THE HELICOPTER.   THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER FAR 137 BY MID-CAL AG AVIATION INC., LOCATED IN KERMAN CA.  THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE VMC AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER.  MINOR INJURY TO THE PILOT.

## 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 WPR13CA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA084), Jan 3, 2013: Bell 47G (N14841), Five Points, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with a telephone pole during a low-level maneuver.

## Other reports on N14841 (2)

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

- [Accident 20000922036629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000922036629A), Sep 22, 2000: Bell 47G5A (N14841), Losantville, IN, No damage. (-23) The pilot set the helicopter half on gravel and on grass. The helicopter rocked backward as he put weight on the skids. He pushed forward cyclic with no…
- [Accident 19780829027509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780829027509A), Aug 29, 1978: Bell 47G5A (N14841), Manson, IA, Substantial damage. Off airport operation.

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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