Bell 47G-5 N4798R

Summary

On 1 November 1989 at about 16:00 local time, a Bell 47G-5 registered N4798R was involved in an accident near Guadalupe, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 November 1989 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Guadalupe, California, United States

Coordinates

35.0502, -120.4792

Aircraft

Bell 47G-5

Registration

N4798R

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX90DVM01

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO COLLIDE WITH A WOODEN POWER POLE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SUNGLARE WHICH INHIBITED THE PILOT'S VISION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OF A HELICOPTER CROP DUSTER COLLIDED WITH A WOODEN POWER POLE DURING AERIAL APPLICATION IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT WAS AWARE OF THE OBSTACLE BEFORE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS ON THE SIXTH SWATH RUN ON A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION HEADING DIRECTLY INTO THE RISING SUN ON THE HORIZON. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.