# Accident 20130625013759A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Millcreek, OR, June 25, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 25, 2013, 15:00 local time
- Place: Millcreek, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.3489° N, 121.1992° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3489&lon=-121.1992&mi=10
- Aircraft: N74666, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N74666) (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
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,932 total, 92 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13CA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA354) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130625013759A

## Narrative

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

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUNE 25, 2013, AT A CHERRY ORCHARD NEAR MILL CREEK OREGON. THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT AT THE CHERRY ORCHARD AT LOW ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED IN AN EFFORT TO DRY THE CHERRY CROP. WHILE MANEUVERING JUST ABOVE THE TREE TOP LEVEL THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK A COOPER WIRE BETWEEN TO TWO POLES. THE WIRE IMMEDIATELY BROKE AND THE PILOT MADE A NORMAL LANDING UNAWARE THAT HE HAD STRUCK A WIRE BUT FELT THE SUBSEQUENT VIBRATION. THE PILOT CLAIMS THAT HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE A CHANGE IN ROTOR RPM AS A RESULT OF THE STRIKE NOR DID HE HAVE A HARD LANDING FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT

## 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 WPR13CA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA354), Jun 25, 2013: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N74666), The Dalles, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to see and avoid wires while maneuvering at a low-altitude, which resulted in the main rotor blades striking the wires.

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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