# Accident 20120612013159A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, East Wenatchee, WA, June 12, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 12, 2012, 15:20 local time
- Place: East Wenatchee, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.4092° N, 120.2497° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4092&lon=-120.2497&mi=10
- Aircraft: N282MC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N282MC-2017-10-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12LA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA259) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120612013159A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT AND PILOT RATED PASSENGER WERE CONDUCTING CHERRY DRYING OPERATIONS IN A ROBINSON R44 II HELICOPTER. THEY HAD FINISHED A NORTH TO SOUTH PASS AND WERE MAKING A LEFT 180 DEGREE TURN WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK A POWER LINE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET ABOVE THE SOUTH END OF THE ORCHARD. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE IN A CHERRY TREE DIRECTLY BELOW THE DAMAGED POWER LINE. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 WPR12LA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA259), Jun 12, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N282MC), East Wenatchee, WA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the environment and maintain clearance from the power lines while maneuvering at low altitude.

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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