Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Berlin, Wisconsin 54923
Friday, May 21, 1993 17:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

APPROACHING AN IRRIGATION PUMP, THE PILOT SHUT OFF THE SPRAY AND INITIATED A CLIMB OVER THE PUMP. THE HELICOPTER CLEARED THE PUMP BUT STRUCK A 2-IN SQUARE STEEL CHANNEL THAT EXTENDED ABOVE THE PUMP. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE CHANNEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO SEE THE OBSTRUCTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1750
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BERLIN
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54923
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1746 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID OSH
Elevation of weather observation facility 808
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 135
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 21 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50482
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8458E
NTSB Number CHI93LA179
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47
Aircraft Series Identifier 47
Aircraft Serial Number 2662
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 11441
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROY W. REABE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 234
Aircraft Owner City WAUPUN
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53963
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROY W. REABE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 234
Operator City WAUPUN
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 53963
Operator Code GL13
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 45C
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1745
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --