# Accident 20150703008459A: Eurocopter EC 130 B4, Somerset, CO, July 3, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 3, 2015, 17:30 local time
- Place: Somerset, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: RB0A
- Location: 38.9889° N, 107.3483° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9889&lon=-107.3483&mi=10
- Aircraft: N974BR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N974BR-2018-06-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter EC 130 B4 (registry code 8680989, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1 (registry code 60056, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER EC 130 B4
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15CA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA312) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150703008459A

## Narrative

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

ON TAKEOFF FROM PRIVATE FISHING PONDS (LOCATED APPROXIMATELY N39*0'43" W107*20'21") THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A GROUNDING STATIC WIRE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A CLOTHES LINE WIRE.  MINOR DAMAGED ONE ROTOR BLADE, 2 TAIL ROTOR BLADES, AND FENESTRON.  WIRE STRIKE OCCURRED ABOUT 60 TO 80 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.

NTSB, TOM LATSON IN EMAIL STATED "THE NTSB CONSIDERS YOUR WIRE-STRIKE EVENT AS "MINOR" DAMAGE AND THEREFORE "NOT AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT""

7/22/2015:  AFTER FURTHER REVIEW BY THE NTSB, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO TWO MAIN ROTOR BLADES BEING DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.

## 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 CEN15CA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA312), Jul 3, 2015: Eurocopter EC 130 B4 (N974BR), Somerset, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude when he was aware that there were wires in the area which resulted in the helicopter contacting a wire.

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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