Bell 47G-2A accident near Mercedes, Texas, July 11, 2007
On July 11, 2007 at about 6:12 pm local time, a Bell 47G-2A (helicopter), registered N7878, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mercedes, Texas (Mid Valley airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power transmission line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2007 · about 6:12 pm local time
- Place
- Mercedes, Texas · Mid Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-2A · all 47G-2As on the register
- Registration
- N7878 · registry record · serial 2707
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The single-engine helicopter collided with a power line during an aerial application flight. The 9,212-hour commercial pilot lost control of the helicopter following the collision and the airplane impacted the ground. The pilot, who sustained minor injuries, was able to egress the helicopter unassisted. The pilot reported that prior to the collision with the power line, the reciprocating engine helicopter was operating normally, and added that he never saw the power line during the flight prior to impact.
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: 9,212 hours in all; 8,500 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,382 hours
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO435AIF (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: T65 Weslaco TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,998 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:05 pm
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.
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.