ULYSSES, KS, USA
N8142W
BELL UH-1B
THE HELICOPTER WAS REFUELED & LOADED WITH A SPRAY MIX, THEN THE PLT PROCEEDED TO A FIELD & BEGAN AERIAL APPLICATION. AFTER THE 2ND SWATH RUN, HE MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER UP & OVER 'BIG' POWER LINES ON THE EAST END OF THE FIELD. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE OWNER ESTIMATED THE HELICOPTER HAD ABOUT 1983 LBS OF SPRAY & 900 LBS OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN IT CRASHED.
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ROTOR RPM, WHILE MANEUVERING OVER A HIGH OBSTRUCTION (POWER LINE) AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT DESCENT & COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. THE HIGH OBSTRUCTION WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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