Bell 47G 5 accident near Mansfield, IL
On August 12, 2014, a Bell 47G 5 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Mansfield, IL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 12, 2014
- Place
- Mansfield, IL
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G 5 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 40.203°N, 88.511°W
- NTSB ID
- 20140812X50722
Official records · CEN14LA423
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn August 12, 2014, about 1045 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-5 helicopter, N7089J, impacted a powerline and terrain near Mansfield, Illinois. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Reynolds Aerial Service LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Day visual flight rules conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a flight plan. The local flight originated from Mansfield, Illinois, at time unknown. A witness, who lived near the accident site, reported that he noticed the agricultural application helicopter flying at a low altitude. He said that the helicopter cleared the tree line on the west side of his property. In his statement, he, in part, stated: I looked up and [saw] him flying from the north east to the south west over my property and when it passed the tree line on the west side of my property the air craft was [taken] by a gust of wind which hit the right side of the air craft and jerked it up and to the left [directly] into the power lines that are south west of my house and that is when he hit the top line with the left long extension spray boom where chemicals are sprayed from and caused the air craft to flip upside down. I called 911 as I was running out. He subsequently got in his car and drove to the field southwest of his property. He observed the helicopter was "upside down" in the bean field. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe 47-year-old pilot held a F
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-altitude flight in gusting wind conditions following his use of a sedating medication.
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Browse: Illinois · 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.
