Bell 47D1 N310A

Summary

On 22 June 1990 at about 14:00 local time, a Bell 47D1 registered N310A was involved in an accident near Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 June 1990 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

41.6394, -80.1397

Aircraft

Bell 47D1

Registration

N310A

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC90DGM02

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE POWER LINES.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER LANDING TO REPLENISH THE SPRAY SYSTEM, THE PILOT OF THE AERIAL APPLICATION HELICOPTER DEPARTED TO SPRAY ANOTHER FIELD. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE STAGING AREA THE HELICOPTER STRUCK POWER LINES, AND FELL TO THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED CONTROL CONTINUITY THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, AND NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION/DIFFICULTY. THE OWNER OF THE FARM BEING SPRAYED STATED THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN SPRAYING HIS FIELDS FOR TWENTY YEARS AND SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THE LOCATION OF THE POWER LINES STRUNG ACROSS THE FIELD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.