- Date
- February 1, 1989, 09:41 local (17:41 UTC)
- Place
- Strathmore, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor; on the ground: 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2918WBell 47G-3B2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890201001659A
- Case key
- 26150
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Improper compensation for wind conditions by the pilot, and his failure to maintain clearance from the service truck. Factors relating to the accident were: the unfavorable (variable) and gusty wind conditions and close proximity of the service vehicle.
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.
Analysis
During a hovering maneuver, after the helicopter had just lifted off with an external load, a gust of wind was encountered. Subsequently, the external load swung & snagged on the service truck. The helicopter was then pulled down & it collided with the truck. No preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was reported. The plt suffered broken ribs & a minor head injury; a ground loading assistant received minor injuries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2918W
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-3B2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- N2918W
- Airframe hours
- 6,983
- Engine
- Lycoming TVO-435-B1A, 280 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Agri-Fly Services, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Agri-Fly Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 30, 1989 · 3 hours before
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
- 58
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 16,000 total · 9,000 in this make and model · 10 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.