20021115032209A

(-23) On November 15, 2002 at approx 1630 MST, a BHT-206B helicopter, N16962, s/n 2362 had in-flight collision with a power line and was destroyed upon subsequent collision with terrain approx 20 miles nw of Kingman, AZ. The lone pilot sustained fatal injuries. The wire strike was on lower wire of two power lines stacked vertically approx 40 ft AGL with the upper wire approx 4 ft above the lower wire and still intact. The power lines run parallel to stockton hill rd (rd runs approx 315/135 degrees) and then cross over and run perpendicular to stockton hill rd at the initial area of the wire strike. Impact with terrain was approx 500 ft se and approx 150 ft w of stockton hill rd from initial wire strike. Impact area indicates helicopter impacted terrain basically in a level attitude slightly rt nose down. Impact force was near vertical with fuel bladder completely ruptured and transmission deck/roof collapsed upon fuselage. All flight controls and power drive train components located within impact area. One main rotor blade had marks/striations consistent with evidence of wire strike. Marks were approx 4 ft from rotor head attach point.