Bell 47G-3B-1
Shafter, CA — July 15, 2008
Event Information
| Date | July 15, 2008 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | LAX08CA229 |
| Event ID | 20080815X01253 |
| Location | Shafter, CA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 35.45278, -119.34250 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Bell |
| Model | 47G-3B-1 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 137 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | NDRK |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude while maneuvering. Contributing factors were the failure of the helicopter's lights during the night flight and the effect of that failure on the pilot's visual perception.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that a few minutes after taking off for a nighttime agricultural spray flight over an alfalfa field, the ground illumination lights in his helicopter went out. At the time, he was descending and maneuvering close to the ground. The pilot reported that he did not see the field before impacting it with the spray boom. The helicopter rolled over and was substantially damaged.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.