Mary F. Silitch

<p><b>Bell 206B JetRanger, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, Oct. 20, 2007</b>–Bell N345TV lost power while hovering out of ground effect and was substantially damaged during its emergency descent and landing. The commercial pilot was seriously injured and the boom operator had minor injuries. The USA Airmobile helicopter was on a “series of local utility maintenance flights” to clean electrical power line insulators. This required a 30-foot spray boom on the right side of the helicopter, a 50-gallon water tank inside and a pressure pump on the left side. The helicopter was hovering about 60 feet above the ground cleaning insulators when without warning the engine quit. The pilot managed to turn the helicopter away from the powerlines. The JetRanger was operating out of Prudhoe Bay Airport. </p>
