N715BH – BELL 47G 5A – 2014-02-18 NTSB Accident Report

On February 18, 2014, a Bell 47G 5A (N715BH) was involved in an incident near Greenfield, CA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power pole during low-altitude maneuvering flight.

During the 2 hours leading up to the accident, the pilot of the agriculture and pest control category helicopter had sprayed about 40 acres of crops, having refueled once. He stated that during the last pass of his current field he misjudged the distance between the main rotor blades and a power pole. The main rotor blades struck the pole, and the pilot performed a forced landing into the field. During the landing, the helicopter rolled over, sustaining substantial damage to the firewall, tailboom, and cabin structure. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation, and further stated that the accident could have been avoided if he had flown over the pole rather than attempting to fly around it.

This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR14CA115. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N715BH.