- Date
- February 20, 1995, 07:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place
- Sonoma, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1309XBell 47G-5
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 18, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950220002109A
- Case key
- 29037
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
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout for obstructions during initial climb. Factors which contributed to the accident were the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, and his decision to fly with an inadequately cleaned bubble which partially obstructed his vision. Sun glare was an additional factor in the accident.
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
The pilot reported that while performing a preflight inspection he observed moisture (dew) present on the bubble of his helicopter. He did not have towels, so he attempted to wipe the bubble clean using his hands. The pilot further reported that he observed bystanders approaching, so he decided to take off away from their position, and he flew into telephone wires. The pilot also reported that the sun was in front of him which also restricted his flight visibility.
Factual narrative
On February 20, 1995, at 0745 Pacific standard time, a Bell 47G- 5, N1309X, operated by North Coast Helicopter Services, Inc., collided with a wire during initial climb from near Sonoma, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight. The helicopter was substantially damaged, and the commercial pilot was seriously injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
On February 23, 1995, the pilot's wife reported to the National Transportation Safety Board that, at the time of the accident, the pilot was planning to fly to a nearby field where loaders were standing by to place chemicals in the helicopter for a planned agricultural spray flight. The field was an estimated 1/4 mile away.
In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," NTSB Form 6120.1, he made a statement regarding the sequence of events prior to and during the flight, summarized as follows:
"I got the helicopter ready to fly (untied the blades and skids, performed a preflight, checked oil, etc.). By then my crew had departed with the truck and went to the loading site, so I did not have towels to wipe the dew off the bubble. I did the best I could with my hands which still left quite a lot of droplets on the plastic. The sun was in front of me which made the visibility more restricted. I thought I could see well enough to make the short flight to the rig. Because there was a small crowd of people on my left side, I took off to my right away from the people and hit phone wires about 100 feet from the trailer. I never saw the wires because of the moisture on the bubble."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1309X
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-5
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 7818
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-B1A, 265 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Operator
- North Coast Helicopter Service
- Registered owner
- North Coast Helicopter Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special)
- Destination
- CA
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
- 55
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 7,900 total · 1,200 in this make and model · 7,800 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 57 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N1309X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.