What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 4/29/2018, at approximately 11 :35 am, pilot in command (PIC} and lineman (seated to the pilot's left on work platform) departed the landing zone, located at coordinates N40.14, W82.31. The crew traveled eastbound on the south side of the power lines for 3/4 mile, crossed over a structure and turned back west to begin work.
The PIC descended to the outside phase and then moved the aircraft laterally toward the line. During the approach, the lineman bonded onto the wire and began installing a new spacer between the 4-bundle conductor. As the lineman was working to compress and lock the upper inboard spacer connector, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter closer to better position the lineman.
During repositioning, the PIC heard a noise and felt a vibration from the tail section. Upon realizing the tail rotor made contact with the conductor, the pilot communicated with the lineman to ready and unbond from the conductor. The PIC then moved away from the wire and felt no abnormality of flight. The pilot flew the aircraft under normal operating condition back to the landing zone with no further event. The helicopter was then shut down according to procedure.
During the inspection of the aircraft, the mechanic found the last 4 inches on both tail rotor blades dented and scuffed. No other discrepancies noted.
The columbus flight standards district office was not notified of the accident until 05/04/2018 which was provided by NTSB personnel.
As the FAA filed it
ON 4/29/2018, AT APPROXIMATELY 11 :35 AM, PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC} AND LINEMAN (SEATED TO THE PILOT'S LEFT ON WORK PLATFORM) DEPARTED THE LANDING ZONE, LOCATED AT COORDINATES N40.14, W82.31. THE CREW TRAVELED EASTBOUND ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE POWER LINES FOR 3/4 MILE, CROSSED OVER A STRUCTURE AND TURNED BACK WEST TO BEGIN WORK.
THE PIC DESCENDED TO THE OUTSIDE PHASE AND THEN MOVED THE AIRCRAFT LATERALLY TOWARD THE LINE. DURING THE APPROACH, THE LINEMAN BONDED ONTO THE WIRE AND BEGAN INSTALLING A NEW SPACER BETWEEN THE 4-BUNDLE CONDUCTOR. AS THE LINEMAN WAS WORKING TO COMPRESS AND LOCK THE UPPER INBOARD SPACER CONNECTOR, THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER CLOSER TO BETTER POSITION THE LINEMAN.
DURING REPOSITIONING, THE PIC HEARD A NOISE AND FELT A VIBRATION FROM THE TAIL SECTION. UPON REALIZING THE TAIL ROTOR MADE CONTACT WITH THE CONDUCTOR, THE PILOT COMMUNICATED WITH THE LINEMAN TO READY AND UNBOND FROM THE CONDUCTOR. THE PIC THEN MOVED AWAY FROM THE WIRE AND FELT NO ABNORMALITY OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRCRAFT UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION BACK TO THE LANDING ZONE WITH NO FURTHER EVENT. THE HELICOPTER WAS THEN SHUT DOWN ACCORDING TO PROCEDURE.
DURING THE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE MECHANIC FOUND THE LAST 4 INCHES ON BOTH TAIL ROTOR BLADES DENTED AND SCUFFED. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES NOTED.
THE COLUMBUS FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ACCIDENT UNTIL 05/04/2018 WHICH WAS PROVIDED BY NTSB PERSONNEL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.