Approach UNDER wires
NTSB Identification: CEN09CA339
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Friday, June 05, 2009 in San Marcos, TX
Aircraft: BELL 47G, registration: N8420E
Injuries: 1 Serious.
The commercial pilot said he was landing the agricultural helicopter at the edge of a large open bean field to pick up communications radios from his ground crew. During his landing approach under power lines he said he saw a vehicle approaching that he had not seen before. The pilot said he then raised the helicopter to allow the vehicle to pass underneath. The tail rotor blades then struck a wire at about 20 feet above the ground and the helicopter began to spin. The pilot said he lost control and the helicopter struck the surface of the bean field and rolled on its side. There was no post crash fire, but the helicopter was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured and was airlifted by HEMS helicopter to a nearby hospital.