# Accident 20130524010899A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Cross Timbers, MO, May 24, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 24, 2013, 17:51 local time
- Place: Cross Timbers, MO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.0392° N, 93.2881° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0392&lon=-93.2881&mi=10
- Aircraft: N569BC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N569BC-2014-08-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13FA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA295) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130524010899A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS FLYING AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE ON A SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING. THE  HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND WIRE, NORMALLY SUSPENDED ABOUT 65 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, ABOVE A SET OF ELECTRICAL POWER LINES. THE WIRE  WRAPPED AROUND THE MAIN ROTOR SHAFT AND TRAILED THE HELICOPTER. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IT IMPACTED SURROUNDING TREES AND THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED BY THE IMPACT AND POST-CRASH FIRE.

## 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 CEN13FA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA295), May 24, 2013: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N569BC), Cross Timbers, MO, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to see and avoid a power line during the low-altitude flight.

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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