# Accident 20080704843249A: Robsin R44RAVENII, Wedron, IL, July 4, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2008, 18:20 local time
- Place: Wedron, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.3997° N, 88.7939° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3997&lon=-88.7939&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31138, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31138-2013-09-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-540 series (registry code 17051, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44RAVENII
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 238 total, 27 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI08CA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA177) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080704843249A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 4, 2008, AT ABOUT 1820 CDT, AT WEDRON, ILLINOIS, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF ROBINSON R-44, N31138, PROVIDING A SIGHT-SEEING FLIGHT WITH 3 PASSENGERS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF HE ENCOUNTERED THE FOX RIVER AND BEGAN A FLIGHT OVER THE RIIVER AT AN ALTITUDE THAT CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO STRIKE POWER LINES THAT CROSSED THE RIVER. THE PILOT LOST AIRCRAFT CONTROL, YET MANAGED TO LAND THE HELICOPTER IN ABOUT 5 FEET OF WATER. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND BECAME MOSTLY SUBMERGED. ALL ABOARD WERE ABLE TO SWIM TO SHORE AND ONLY ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURY, THE BEING A MINOR BURN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI08CA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA177), Jul 4, 2008: Robinson R44 II (N31138), Ottawa, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power transmission lines. Contributing to the accident was the unmarked power transmission lines.

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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