ATL97LA121

Factual narrative

On August 11, 1997, at 1405 central daylight time, a Bell 47-D1, N908B, collided with utility lines while applying insecticide to a field in Holcomb, Mississippi. The helicopter was operated by Lanier Flying Service under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137 and visual flight rules. The prevailing weather was visual meteorological conditions, and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter incurred substantial damage, and the commercial pilot was not injured. The aerial application flight originated from a field near Grenada, Mississippi at 1400. The pilot of the helicopter stated the cotton field he was spraying was lined with a number of utility lines. He circled the field "2 or 3 times to locate obstructions" and believed he had determined where all the utility lines were located. He then began to spray the field with insecticide. When he had completed spraying about half of the field, the helicopter struck a utility line that was "hidden by the surrounding trees". According to the pilot, "the poles were hidden by the tree line, and the black lines blended with their surroundings". The pilot stated he "did not see the lines until just before impact". The nose of the helicopter then pitched up and allowed the utility line to wrap around the mast of the helicopter. The pilot stated the helicopter then rotated 150 to 160 degrees to the left, and it settled to the ground in a "hard landing". No mechanical difficulties with the helicopter were reported by the pilot. The pilot stated the cotton field he was going to spray with insecticide was lined with utility lines. He circled the field '2 or 3 times to locate obstructions', and began spraying. After finishing about half the field, he struck a utility line that was 'hidden by the surrounding trees'. The nose pitched up, and the utility line wrapped around the helicopter's mast. The helicopter then rotated 150 to 160 degrees to the left, and it settled to the ground in a 'hard landing'. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12