History of Flight
On June 20, 2015, at about 0715 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 47G-5 helicopter, registration N4427F, operated by Gomes Farm Air Service, Inc., impacted a fence and terrain while maneuvering approximately five miles southwest of Salinas Municipal Airport (SNS), Salinas, California. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application operation. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight departed from a loading area near the accident site at about 0650.
According to a tachograph card recovered from the wreckage, the pilot had completed six distinct work orders at various locations earlier that morning.
Two witnesses employed by the operator reported refilling the helicopter's fertilizer tank and observing its departure from the loading area. They stated that around the time the helicopter was expected to return, a thick fog developed, reducing visibility to approximately 15 to 20 feet. Concern arose when the helicopter did not return for its scheduled rinse load. One witness subsequently searched for the aircraft and located the accident scene nearby.
Personnel Information
The pilot, aged 67, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and rotorcraft-helicopter. He did not possess an instrument rating. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, his most recent third-class medical certificate was issued on February 10, 2014, with the limitation that he must wear corrective lenses. On his medical application, the pilot reported a total of 17,500 flight hours, of which 200 hours were accrued in the preceding six months.
Aircraft Information
The helicopter was a Bell 47G-5, serial number 7971, manufactured in 1970. It received a restricted category airworthiness certificate on May 17, 2012, and was configured for agricultural and pest control operations. The type certificate data sheet specified a maximum gross weight of 2,257 pounds and a two-person seating capacity. The most recent annual inspection occurred on February 6, 2015, at a total airframe time of 8,275 hours.
Meteorological Information
At 0653, the weather reporting station at Salinas Municipal Airport (about five miles east of the accident site) reported calm winds, visibility 7 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 12°C, dew point 9°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.92 inches of mercury. In contrast, the Monterey Regional Airport (approximately nine miles southwest) recorded wind from 290° at 3 knots, visibility 1 statute mile with mist, an overcast ceiling at 200 feet, temperature 12°C, dew point 11°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.93 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage at the scene. The helicopter came to rest on a road adjacent to a lettuce field. A wire fence running parallel to the road about 40 feet northeast of the main wreckage was torn open. Power lines oriented east-west approximately 50 feet south of the accident site were undamaged. The inspector identified no anomalies or malfunctions with the helicopter during the examination.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Monterey County Sheriff-Coroner's Office performed an autopsy on the pilot, listing blunt force injuries as the cause of death. The autopsy also revealed an enlarged heart and significant coronary artery disease, with 50-75% stenosis of two coronary arteries. The pilot had reported no chronic medical conditions or chronic medication use to the FAA.
Toxicology testing by the FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory identified hydrocodone (0.718 µg/ml) and dihydrocodeine (0.098 µg/ml) in the pilot's blood, as well as acetaminophen, dihydrocodeine, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone in urine. Hydrocodone is a Schedule II controlled substance opioid with usual therapeutic levels between 0.010 and 0.050 µg/ml. Dihydrocodeine and hydromorphone are opioid analgesics and also metabolites of hydrocodone. A small plastic bag containing five tablets labeled M367 (325 mg acetaminophen and 10 mg hydrocodone) was found in the pilot's pocket.