Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain a visual lookout while maneuvering on a swath run, resulting in an in-flight collision with wires, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On September 23, 1994, about 0835 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47G-2A, N30JJ, registered to Airwork Enterprises, operating as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, collided with wires and crashed while making a swath run in the vicinity of Moore Haven, Florida. The helicopter was destroyed. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from an orange grove located about 7 miles south of Moore Haven, Florida, about 5 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated he was making a swath run to the north over an orange grove. Power lines were located to his right paralleling the swath run. Another set of power lines intersect the north/south power lines from the east/west, at the end of the orange grove. Upon reaching the end of the swath run, he observed and collided with the east/west power lines separating the tailrotor from the helicopter. The helicopter spun to the right, collided with the terrain, and was destroyed by a postcrash fire.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA94LA216