20090324003159A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R22 · Chowchilla, CA · March 24, 2009

Date: March 24, 2009 · 06:30 local
Place: Chowchilla, CA
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N139RJ
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR09CA163
Reported as: Robsin R22
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,250 total1,200 in this make and model200 in the last 90 days

N139RJRegistration cancelled Feb 12, 2018 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 1683 · Built 1991 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) While conducting frost control operation, the aircraft struck a high tension power line with its main rotor. The pilot stated that he conducted a prior inspection of the field revealing there were 2 sets of wires. The helicopter was operating at dawn at approx 40 ft AGL. The pilot stated that he cleared the first set of wires and continued on his west bound heading. The pilot realized that he could not see the 2nd set of wires and started to turn toward a north bound heading. At this time the helicopter's main rotor blade cut the lower wire on the high tension power line this action was followed by structural failure of the main rotor blade causing the helicopter to drop 40 ft into a grape vine area.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE CONDUCTING FROST CONTROL OPERATION, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A HIGH TENSION POWER LINE WITH ITS MAIN ROTOR. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CONDUCTED A PRIOR INSPECTION OF THE FIELD REVEALING THERE WERE 2 SETS OF WIRES. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING AT DAWN AT APPROX 40 FT AGL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CLEARED THE FIRST SET OF WIRES AND CONTINUED ON HIS WEST BOUND HEADING. THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE 2ND SET OF WIRES AND STARTED TO TURN TOWARD A NORTH BOUND HEADING. AT THIS TIME THE HELICOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR BLADE CUT THE LOWER WIRE ON THE HIGH TENSION POWER LINE THIS ACTION WAS FOLLOWED BY STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO DROP 40 FT INTO A GRAPE VINE AREA.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR09CA163Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportChowchilla, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines.Mar 24, 2009 · Substantial damage