# NTSB CEN09CA339: Bell 47G, N8420E, San Marcos, TX, June 5, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 5, 2009, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: San Marcos, TX - Coordinates: 29.93361, -97.868614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9336&lon=-97.8686&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73971 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA339 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73971/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73971 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA339 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Tail rotor: tail rotor blade](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046410): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046410/cases.md) - [Personality/attitude: complacency](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot said that he was landing the agricultural helicopter at the edge of a large field to pick up communications radios from his ground crew. During his landing approach under power lines, he saw a vehicle approaching that he had not seen before. The pilot said that he then raised the helicopter to allow the vehicle to pass underneath. The tail rotor blades then struck a wire at about 20 feet above the ground and the helicopter began to spin. The pilot said that he lost control and the helicopter struck the surface of the field and rolled on its side. There was no postcrash fire, but the helicopter was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot said he was landing the agricultural helicopter at the edge of a large open bean field to pick up communications radios from his ground crew. During his landing approach under power lines he said he saw a vehicle approaching that he had not seen before. The pilot said he then raised the helicopter to allow the vehicle to pass underneath. The tail rotor blades then struck a wire at about 20 feet above the ground and the helicopter began to spin. The pilot said he lost control and the helicopter struck the surface of the bean field and rolled on its side. There was no post crash fire, but the helicopter was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured and was airlifted by HEMS helicopter to a nearby hospital. ## Aircraft - Registration: N8420E (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G (2) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2558 - Airframe hours: 10045 - Engines: LYCOMING VO435 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Continental Helicopter Services Inc - Registered owner: Barton Clyde E - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2008, 35 hours before - Departed: KHYI, San Marcos, TX - Destination: KHYI, San Marcos, TX - Airport: KHYI, San Marcos Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 29, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 16,435 total, 99 in this make and model, 16,435 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KHYI, 2 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090605009629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090605009629A), Jun 5, 2009: Bell 47G2, San Marcos, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot performed landing approach to an agricultural field, attempting to cross a road under electiric power lines and telephone lines. As the helicopter… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73971. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - from Aircraft Owner (item 1, .PDF, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315937&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20from%20Aircraft%20Owner-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - from Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20from%20Pilot-Redacted.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.