Bell 47G-2 accident near Wheeler, WI
On July 26, 2001, a Bell 47G-2 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Wheeler, WI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 26, 2001
- Place
- Wheeler, WI
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 45.039°N, 91.901°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010801X01580
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 26, 2001, at 0940 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-2, N986B, was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with power lines and subsequent collision with the terrain near Wheeler, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The local flight departed at 0930. According to a witness to the accident, the helicopter approached from the east and attempted to clear some power transmission lines and impacted the top wire, subsequently impacting the terrain. The witness reported that a fire started subsequent to the helicopter impacting the terrain. Another witness reported hearing a power line pole breaking and saw the helicopter impact the terrain. The witness stated that a fire started after the helicopter impacted the terrain. The witness statements are appended to this factual report. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transport Canada records, the pilot was the holder of commercial pilot certificate with a rating for helicopters. The pilot also held an airline transport pilot certificate and was certified for single-engine land/sea airplanes and multiengine land airplanes. The pilot was instrument rated. According to FAA records the pilot completed his last aviation medical examination on May 9, 2001, and was issued a second-class medical certificate with the limitation, "Must wear corrective lense
Probable cause
The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from the power transmission line. A factor to the accident was the power transmission line.
More accidents in WI
- Douglas DC-9-14, Sep 6, 1985
- Beech 200, Nov 16, 1987
- Piper PA-28-140, Feb 3, 1991
- Piper PA-32R-300, Aug 19, 1990
- Cessna 421C, Jul 1, 2017
Browse: Wisconsin · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
