20140813014799A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Lancaster, WI · August 13, 2014

Date: August 13, 2014 · 12:30 local
Place: Lancaster, WI
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: 4B9G
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8343P
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN14CA426
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,312 total1,118 in this make and model252 in the last 90 days

N8343PRegistration cancelled Jan 9, 2018 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 0313 · Built 1996 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming O-540-F1B5Reciprocating

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.

On August 13, 2014 at 1230 CDT a R-44, N8343P, made a hard landing in a field after coming into contact with powerlines in Lancaster, WI. The pilot received minor injuries and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was being operated as an agricultural aerial applicator by back nine aerial LLC when the accident occurred. VMC conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.

As the FAA filed it

ON AUGUST 13, 2014 AT 1230 CDT A R-44, N8343P, MADE A HARD LANDING IN A FIELD AFTER COMING INTO CONTACT WITH POWERLINES IN LANCASTER, WI. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED AS AN AGRICULTURAL AERIAL APPLICATOR BY BACK NINE AERIAL LLC WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.

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 CEN14CA426Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportLancaster, WIThe pilot's inadequate monitoring of the environment and failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires during an aerial application flight.Aug 13, 2014 · Substantial damage