Bell 47G accident near Swifton, Arkansas, September 10, 2005
On September 10, 2005 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N862Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Swifton, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines. A contributing factor was sun glare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 2005 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Swifton, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N862Z · no longer on the register · serial C-5002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 160-hour student pilot struck 4 electrical transmission lines while flying west bound at a low altitude. He stated in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he was headed west into the afternoon sun and did not see the power lines located along a gravel road with a tree line running north and south. The helicopter impacted the ground approximately 140 feet after contacting the wires, rolled and came to rest approximately 300 feet from the initial point of contact. The pilot unfastened his seat belt and egressed without difficulty. His passenger had problems unfastening his seatbelt and the pilot returned to the helicopter to assist the trapped passenger. Weather at the time of the accident was reported as scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, winds from 130 degrees at 5 knots, temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter 30.05 inches of Mercury.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 157 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,029.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2005; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 0-335-50 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Sissom And Woods Farms, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: ARG Walnut Ridge Re AR at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KJBR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.