BAKERSFIELD, CA, USA
N73260
BELL 47-G2A
THE PILOT SAID HE WAS APPLYING CHEMICALS TO A COTTON FIELD AND MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE FROM A 20-FOOT-TALL IRRIGATION STANDPIPE. THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED THE STANDPIPE AND THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO THE FIELD.
On June 18, 1995, at 0915 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bell 47-G2A helicopter, N73260, collided with an irrigation standpipe while engaged in aerial application operations near Bakersfield, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by Lewis Aviation of Shafter, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at Shafter on the morning of the accident at 0830 as a local aerial application flight. In his written and verbal statements the pilot said he was applying chemicals to a cotton field and misjudged his distance from a 20-foot-tall irrigation standpipe. The main rotor contacted the standpipe and the helicopter crashed into the field.
the pilot's failure to maintain adequate lateral clearance from the irrigation standpipe while applying chemicals to a field.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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