# Accident 20170814013389A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Westby, WI, August 14, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 14, 2017, 13:16 local time
- Place: Westby, WI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 4MFG
- Location: 43.6603° N, 90.8611° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6603&lon=-90.8611&mi=10
- Aircraft: N97UP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N97UP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA491](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA491) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170814013389A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER AGRICULTURE SPRAYING EVENT .  PILOT DID A HIGH ALTITUDE RECON OF THE SPRAY SITE.  THE FIELD WAS 286 FT WIDE BY 1,400 FT LONG.  A HOUSE AT THE WEST END, ROW OF TREES AT THE EAST END, ROW OF HOUSES ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND A ROW OF TREES ON THE NORTH SIDE.  THE PILOT DID A LOW ALTITUDE RECON FOR WIRES, KIDS, STRUCTURES AND GARDENS.  PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE UTILITY POLES IN THE FIELD AND DID NOT SEE WIRES.  HE APPROACHED FROM THE WEST OVER THE HOUSE AND STARTED SPRAYING.  AT ABOUT 1,170 FT DOWN THE FIELD HE NOTICED WIRES DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIM SAME ALTITUDE.  HE PULLED UP AT WHICH POINT THE WIRES STRUCK THE BOTTOM AFT PORTION OF THE FUSELAGE AND TAILROTOR.  THE AIRCRAFT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND CRASHED SOUTH EAST OF THE END OF THE FIELD.

## 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 GAA17CA491](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA491), Aug 14, 2017: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N97UP), Westby, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to see and avoid 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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