Bell 47G-5 accident near Cleveland, Minnesota, July 15, 2003
On July 15, 2003 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G-5 (helicopter), registered N7925J, was destroyed in an accident near Cleveland, Minnesota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and low altitude flight when he failed to maintain altitude/clearance from the transmission wire. A factor contributing to the accident was the transmission wire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2003 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-5 · all 47G-5s on the register
- Registration
- N7925J · registry record · serial 25041
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter sustained substantial damage when it impacted a transmission wire and the terrain while performing aerial application maneuvers. The pilot reported he did not see the transmission wire until it impacted the windshield and deflected upwards towards the main rotorblades. The pilot stated the helicopter began to vibrate severely and descend. The helicopter impacted the terrain on its skids and rolled over onto its left side.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,500 hours in all; 9,000 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 12,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,372.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 2003; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison T63A700 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Cleveland MN at 12:25 pm
- Destination: PVT MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from MKT, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N7925J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.