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Accidents · NTSB WPR17LA206 · Final report

Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017

On September 17, 2017 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 1969 Bell 47G 5 (helicopter), registered N3285T, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Salinas, California (Salinas Muni 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 inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a wire.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
September 17, 2017 · about 2:00 pm local time · cases in 2017
Place
Salinas, California · Salinas Muni · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Bell 47G 5 NO SERIES, built 1969 · all 47G 5s on the register
Registration
N3285T · registry record · serial 7964
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 pilot was flying under a powerline during an aerial application flight in an area with which he was very familiar when the helicopter collided with a wire. The wire was installed at a height of about 20 ft on the 40-ft-tall poles and was used for attaching a larger cable data line, which had not yet been installed at the time of the accident. The pilot did not recall seeing the wire before the accident. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the helicopter impacted the wire at its main rotor mast. The main rotor mast separated from the wreckage and the main rotor blades displayed impact damage consistent with ground impact. Examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter.

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

What happened, in order

  1. Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during maneuvering defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
  • Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome

Pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
  • Medical certificate: Class 2
  • Seat: rgt
  • Injury: minor injuries

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming VO-435 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: Salinas CA at 1:50 pm
  • Destination: Salinas CA
  • Flight plan: VFR

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
  • Visibility: 9 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 900 ft
  • Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
  • Observation at 1:53 pm from KSNS, 5 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Photographs from the investigation 12 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them

Photo 1 – Accident site, main rotor assembly and tail section., from the NTSB investigation of Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017Photo 1 – Accident site, main rotor assembly and tail section.Photo 2 – Accident site, wire strike., from the NTSB investigation of Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017Photo 2 – Accident site, wire strike.Photo 3 – Accident site, tail section., from the NTSB investigation of Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017Photo 3 – Accident site, tail section.Photo 4 – Accident site, main wreckage., from the NTSB investigation of Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017Photo 4 – Accident site, main wreckage.Photo 5 – Accident site, 40-ft power pole., from the NTSB investigation of Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017Photo 5 – Accident site, 40-ft power pole.Photo 6 – Accident site, main wreckage., from the NTSB investigation of Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017Photo 6 – Accident site, main wreckage.Photo 7 – Accident site, cabin area., from the NTSB investigation of Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017Photo 7 – Accident site, cabin area.Photo 8 – Accident site, 40-ft power pole and wires., from the NTSB investigation of Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017Photo 8 – Accident site, 40-ft power pole and wires.Photo 9 – Accident site, main rotor system., from the NTSB investigation of Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017Photo 9 – Accident site, main rotor system.Photo 10 – Accident site, main wreckage., from the NTSB investigation of Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017Photo 10 – Accident site, main wreckage.Photo 11 – Accident site, tail boom and distant power transmission lines., from the NTSB investigation of Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017Photo 11 – Accident site, tail boom and distant power transmission lines.Photo 12 – Accident site, 40-ft power pole and lines., from the NTSB investigation of Bell 47G 5 accident near Salinas, California, September 17, 2017Photo 12 – Accident site, 40-ft power pole and lines.

The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

#DocumentWhat it is
1 Record of Conversation-faa PDF, 1 page View Download
2 Record of Conversation-pilot PDF, 1 page View Download
3 Photo Array-accident Site PDF, 12 pages · our copy View Download

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

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The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR17LA206.json.

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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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.