20150227001849A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 47G-2A · Ivanhoe, CA · February 27, 2015

Date: February 27, 2015 · 11:20 local
Place: Ivanhoe, CA
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: 8BAG
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N4774S
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR15LA116
Reported as: Bell 47G-2A
Reported engine: Lycoming VO-435 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot

N4774SRegistration cancelled Mar 15, 2018 · Bell 47G-2AS/N WAV182 · Built 1965 Airframe modelBell 47G-2A 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.

While performing aerial application, the rotorcraft struck a power line and crashed in an orange grove.

Just prior to the accident the PIC had noticed workers in an adjacent field. He landed the helo and instructed his ground crew to have the workers vacate the field.

This interruption may have caused the PIC to have reduced spatial orientation concerning the powerline that he knew was there.

As the FAA filed it

WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION, THE ROTORCRAFT STRUCK A POWER LINE AND CRASHED IN AN ORANGE GROVE.

JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE PIC HAD NOTICED WORKERS IN AN ADJACENT FIELD. HE LANDED THE HELO AND INSTRUCTED HIS GROUND CREW TO HAVE THE WORKERS VACATE THE FIELD.

THIS INTERRUPTION MAY HAVE CAUSED THE PIC TO HAVE REDUCED SPATIAL ORIENTATION CONCERNING THE POWERLINE THAT HE KNEW WAS THERE.

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 WPR15LA116Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportIvanhoe, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line while maneuvering at low altitude.Feb 27, 2015 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N4774S · 2

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

Accident 20030719014569ATo Vertical (Helicopter Only) · Tulare, CA(-23) Pilot lifted off from trailer to conduct agricultural spray operations after refueling. At approximately 20' AGL and 30 KIAS to 40 KIAS, engine overspeed occurred and helicopter encountered a severe airframe vibration accompanied by loud noise from…Jul 19, 2003 · Substantial damage Accident 19770419008909ALow Level Operations · Lake Wales, FLRotor RPM decayed during evasive maneuver to avoid wiresApr 19, 1977 · Substantial damage