- Date
- July 12, 1986, 05:00 local (10:00 UTC)
- Place
- Walthamer, ME
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7861SBell 47G-5
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860712032479A
- Case key
- 30228
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 object
Light condition - sunglare
In-flight planning/decision - not performed
Object - wire,transmission
Loss of control - in flight
Analysis
While on a spray run the pilot of the bell 47 was blinded by the sun as he was turning. The aircraft struck power lines, control was lost and the helicopter crashed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7861S
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-5
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 7865
- Airframe hours
- 5,411
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-B1A, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Maine Helicopter, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 3, 1986 · 63 hours before
- Departed
- Eastbrook, ME
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
- 52
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,150 total · 500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.