BELL 47G near San Marcos, TX — 2009-06-05

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot said that he was landing the agricultural helicopter at the edge of a large field to pick up communications radios from his ground crew. During his landing approach under power lines, he saw a vehicle approaching that he had not seen before. The pilot said that he then raised the helicopter to allow the vehicle to pass underneath. The tail rotor blades then struck a wire at about 20 feet above the ground and the helicopter began to spin. The pilot said that he lost control and the helicopter struck the surface of the field and rolled on its side. There was no postcrash fire, but the helicopter was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured.

NTSB coding

• Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) · Landing
• Collision during takeoff/land · Landing

Evidence available

• 2 docket documents

Docket documents2

• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - from Aircraft Ownerform
• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - from Pilotform

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