# Incident 20040609011709I: Robsin R22BETA, Kingsburg, CA, June 9, 2004

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 9, 2004, 13:40 local time
- Place: Kingsburg, CA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.5252° N, 119.5664° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kingsburg, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5252&lon=-119.5664&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2415C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2415C-2026-10-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 125 total, 125 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040609011709I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON 06-09-04, MR. MORIARTY WAS ACTING AS PILOT IN COMMAND OF A ROBINSON R-22 HELICOPTER ENGAGED IN SIGHT SEEING NEAR KINGSBURG, CA, ALONG THE KINGSBURG RIVER. HE STATED THAT HE DECIDED TO DROP DOWN AND HOVER NEAR AND LOOK AT A HOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND IN THE PROCESS THE HELICOPTER STRUCK AND BROKE A POWER LINE WIRE. HE MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND MADE A NORMAL/PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. MR. MORIARTY WAS SOLO AND HE WAS NOT INJURED. ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED WITH THE INCIDENT STATED THAT THE WIRES ALONG THE RIVER ARE NOT MARKED OR FLAGGED AS THEY DO NOT EXPECT AIRCRAFT TO FLY THAT LOW. THE POWER LINE CAUSED SEVERE ELECTRICAL ARCHING THROUGHOUT THE HELICOPTER. THE FRONT OF THE COWLING AROUND THE DRIVE SHAFT TO THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM WAS DENTED IN AND THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT HOUSING SUSTAINED ELECTRICAL ARCHING. SEVERAL ATTACHMENT SCREWS OR BOLTS WERE BURNED AWAY FROM THE COWLING WHERE THEY HAD BEEN ATTACHED. THE HELICOPTER POSITION LIGHT HOUSINGS AND THE SKIDS ALSO HAD NOTICEABLE SIGNS OF ELECTRICAL ARCHING.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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