# NTSB ATL02LA094: Bell 47G-5A, N14838, La Belle, FL, April 26, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 2002, 09:05 local (13:05 UTC) - Place: La Belle, FL - Coordinates: 26.744167, -81.433052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7442&lon=-81.4331&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Miami FSDO - 19 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54598 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54598/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54598 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA094 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance of a tree while maneuvering, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the tree and subsequent uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot was executing herbicide swath runs about six feet above the ground at 25 to 30 mph. As the pilot maneuvered to clear a tree on the bank of a ditch the main rotor blades became entangled in the branches approximately 25 to 30 feet above the ground. Upon contact with the tree, the helicopter's rpm decayed rapidly, and the helicopter fell into the ditch. There were no mechanical problems reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 2002, at 0905 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47G-5A helicopter, N14838, registered to and operated by Airwork Enterprises of Florida, Inc., collided with a tree while maneuvering in a citrus grove in La Belle, Florida. The aerial application flight was operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from the citrus grove in La Belle, Florida, at 0715. The pilot was executing swath runs to apply herbicide solutions to weed plants in drainage ditches in a citrus grove. The pilot conducted the application runs about six feet above the ground at 25 to 30 mph. While finishing with the sixth load of spray, the pilot flew on a northerly heading, and a large oak tree was on the east bank of the ditch being treated. As the pilot maneuvered to clear the tree by climbing, the helicopter's main rotor blades became entangled in the branches approximately 25 to 30 feet above the ground. Upon contact with the tree, the helicopter's rpm decayed rapidly, and it fell straight down into the ditch. Examination of the wreckage revealed the main rotor system was damaged, the tail boom was separated, and both skids were separated. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14838](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14838-2017-05-31), registration cancelled 2017-05-31, S/N 25088, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47G-5A - Registry model: [Bell 47G-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5a) (registry code 1181034) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 25088 - Airframe hours: 8062 - Engines: Lycoming VO-435 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Airwork Enterprises of Florida, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 26, 2001, 28 hours before - Departed: La Belle, FL - Destination: La Belle, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 19, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 5,018 total, 518 in this make and model, 4,620 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: RSW, 21 nm away ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54598. 699 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 609 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434100&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Rutter (item 2, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434101&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Rutter-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Sherrod (item 3, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434102&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Sherrod-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 4, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40165974&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.