# NTSB WPR11CA339: Bell 47G-5, N1375X, Watsonville, CA, July 20, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 20, 2011, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Watsonville, CA - Coordinates: 36.908889, -121.673889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9089&lon=-121.6739&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 6, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81165 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA339 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81165/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81165 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA339 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a pole while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 47G-5, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181032), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an aerial application flight, the pilot was spraying water on a field to wash the hopper tank for the next load of chemicals. During the second pass, the pilot attempted to clear a wire that ran perpendicular to his flight path by descending beneath it at an altitude of approximately 5 feet. The pilot reported that the outer end of one main rotor blade struck the pole and the helicopter impacted the ground and rolled over. ## Factual narrative The pilot was spraying water on a field to wash the hopper tank for the next load of chemicals. On the second pass the pilot attempted to clear a wire that ran perpendicular to his flight path by descending beneath it at an altitude of approximately 5 feet. The pilot reported that the outer end of one main rotor blade struck the pole and the helicopter hit the ground and rolled over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1375X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1375X-2016-09-22), registration cancelled 2016-09-22, S/N 7840, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G-5 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (registry code 1181032) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 7840 - Airframe hours: 8224 - Engines: LYCOMING VO-435 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Gomes Farm Air Service Inc - Registered owner: Gomes Farm Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 9, 2011, 15 hours before - Departed: KSNS, Salinas, CA - Destination: N/A, Watsonville, CA - Airport: N/A, None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 11, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 342 total, 172 in this make and model, 282 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 154° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KWVI, 7 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110720017189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110720017189A), Jul 20, 2011: Bell 47G-5, Watsonville, CA, Substantial damage. While conducting agricutural spraying operations pilot misjudged distance from an electrical power line pole. Main rotor struck power line pole. ## Other investigations on N1375X (3) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX83FUA03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FUA03), Feb 10, 1983: Bell 47G-5 (N1375X), Irvine, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB LAX71FUJ40](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71FUJ40), Oct 24, 1970: Bell 47G-5 (N1375X), El Mirage, AZ, destroyed - [NTSB LAX68A0003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX68A0003), Jul 10, 1967: Bell 47G-5 (N1375X), Casa Grande, AZ, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81165. 521 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 521 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352087&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.