What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On September 25, 1999, approx. 1840 mountain daylight time, a Robinson R22, N8360J, operated by ruesch machines, was substantially damaged when it collided with powerlines while maneuvering 7 miles northeast of St. George, Utah. The pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight being conducted under title 14 CFR part 91, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated at St. George at 1655. Preliminary information indicates the pilot received an outlook weather briefing from the cedar city automated flight service station. No other air traffic control services were provided, nor was there any further contact with the pilot. The pilot told the county sheriff's office that he had struck powerlines 7 miles northeast of St. George. He also reported substantial damage to the helicopter. Attempts to contact the pilot have been unsuccessful. (-23)pilot was approximately 5 miles north pf St. George, Utah, practicing rapid deceleration maneuvers. While practicing the pilot flew into the top wire of a single phase power line. The right landing skid had hooked the top wire. The helicopter continued in flight pulling the wire and slowing the speed of the helicopter. The wire snapped and the right skid separated from the helicopter. The helicopter then fell to the ground causing substantial damage to the helicopter.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1999, APPROX. 1840 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R22, N8360J, OPERATED BY RUESCH MACHINES, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES WHILE MANEUVERING 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF ST. GEORGE, UTAH. THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT ABOARD, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT ST. GEORGE AT 1655. PRELIMINARY INFORMATION INDICATES THE PILOT RECEIVED AN OUTLOOK WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE CEDAR CITY AUTOMATED FLIGHT SERVICE STATION. NO OTHER AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES WERE PROVIDED, NOR WAS THERE ANY FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE PILOT. THE PILOT TOLD THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT HE HAD STRUCK POWERLINES 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF ST. GEORGE. HE ALSO REPORTED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER. ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE PILOT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. (-23)PILOT WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES NORTH PF ST. GEORGE, UTAH, PRACTICING RAPID DECELERATION MANEUVERS. WHILE PRACTICING THE PILOT FLEW INTO THE TOP WIRE OF A SINGLE PHASE POWER LINE. THE RIGHT LANDING SKID HAD HOOKED THE TOP WIRE. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED IN FLIGHT PULLING THE WIRE AND SLOWING THE SPEED OF THE HELICOPTER. THE WIRE SNAPPED AND THE RIGHT SKID SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER THEN FELL TO THE GROUND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.