- Date
- May 21, 1990, 08:50 local (12:50 UTC)
- Place
- Lake Wales, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1390XBell 47G-3B-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 29, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900521016869A
- Case key
- 32659
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 adequate clearance between the main rotor blades and a power line pole while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.
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 plt stated that while maneuvering near a power line pole, the main rotor blades contacted it causing an uncontrolled descent. The helicopter then collided with trees and the ground. It was destroyed by the post-crash fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1390X
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-3B-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 6586
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Highland Helicopter Service
- Registered owner
- Unknown
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
- 36
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 9,300 total · 200 in this make and model · 7,900 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- BOW, 5 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.
Other investigations on N1390X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.