LAX85LVM03

NTSB accident investigation · Bell 47G-2 · Watsonville, CA · March 30, 1985

Accident · No injuriesFinal report

Date: March 30, 1985, 07:15 local (15:15 UTC)
Place: Watsonville, CA
Injuries: 1 uninjured
Damage: Destroyed
Phase of flight: Maneuvering
Aircraft: N4227BBell 47G-2
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Dawn
Status: Completed
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19850330014299A
Case key: 24857

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with objectManeuvering - aerial application

In-flight planning/decision - poorPilot in commandFactor

Object - wire,transmission

Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause

Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering - aerial application

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Roll overDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The plt stated he intended to climb over a pwr line at the end of a swath run, however, a tailwind gust was encountered and the acft could not obtain sufficient altitude to clear the line. The plt elected to fly under the line unaware of a lower line which existed. The helicopter contacted the line, descended to the terrain and rolled over.

Aircraft

Registration: N4227B
Reported as: Bell 47G-2
Category: Helicopter
Serial number: 155
Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1O, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Destroyed
Flight: Aerial application · Part 137
Operator: Helicair Ag, Inc.
Registered owner: Helicair Inc.
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: 100 hour · March 20, 1985 · 444 hours before

N4227BRegistration cancelled Feb 2, 1996 · Bell 47G-2S/N 155 Airframe modelBell 47G-2

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 66
Certificates: Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings: Multi-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 18,862 total · 6,228 in this make and model · 10,725 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Dawn
Wind: 300° at 5 knots
Visibility: 25 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 54 °F, dew point -0 °F
Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Observed at: MRY, 17 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.

Accident 19850330014299ABell 47G2 · Watsonville, CAWith a gust of tailwind, decided he could not clear 50 foot high powerlines. Went under, hit lower line.Mar 30, 1985 · N4227B · Destroyed