N64702

Destroyed
Serious

BELL 47G-2AS/N: 2706

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, April 21, 2016
NTSB Number
CEN16LA161
Location
Los Fresnos, TX
Event ID
20160421X11602
Coordinates
26.071666, -97.476387
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's inability to see and avoid the power lines because of trees obscuring his view.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
BELL
Serial Number
2706
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1962
Model / ICAO
47G-2AB47G
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1
Seats
3
FAA Model
47G-2A

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
HENDRICKSON FLYING SERVICE INC
Address
21532 QUITNO RD
City
ROCHELLE
State / Zip Code
IL 61068-9413
Country
United States

Analysis

On April 21, 2016, about 1112 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-2A, N64702, collided with power lines, impacted terrain, and caught fire near Los Fresnos, Texas. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was seriously injured. The helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Hendrickson Flying Service, Inc, Rochelle, Illinois, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from Weslaco, Texas, at an undetermined time.The following account of the accident is based up a report submitted by the operator because the pilot was seriously injured and was in the hospital: The pilot was spraying a cotton field between two sets of power lines that ran parallel to his flight path. The helicopter struck a third set of power lines that ran perpendicular to the field being sprayed. The power lines were obscured by trees. A ground fire erupted after the accident, resulting in the helicopter being destroyed.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN16LA161