20180609015409A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Oshkosh, WI · June 9, 2018

Date: June 9, 2018 · 12:25 local
Place: Oshkosh, WI
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: MFHJ
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N529DW
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN18FA215
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 548 total548 in this make and model7 in the last 90 days

N529DWRegistration cancelled Nov 28, 2018 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 1109 · Built 2001 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.

After dropping off a passenger, a Robinson R44 rotorcraft, N529DW, departed a landing area ajacent the fox river in downtown Oshkosh, Wisconsin to fly to Oshkosh wittman regional airport for refueling. After departure, the helicopter flew low above the river, pitched up, and contacted a static wire on top of several electrical wires that crossed the river at approximately 100 feet AGL. The helicopter descended vertically and impacted the water 150 feet west of the static wire and sank to a depth of 26 feet. Daytime VMC conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Further investigation revealed 180 feet of 3/8 inch cable wrapped around the helicopter.

As the FAA filed it

AFTER DROPPING OFF A PASSENGER, A ROBINSON R44 ROTORCRAFT, N529DW, DEPARTED A LANDING AREA AJACENT THE FOX RIVER IN DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN TO FLY TO OSHKOSH WITTMAN REGIONAL AIRPORT FOR REFUELING. AFTER DEPARTURE, THE HELICOPTER FLEW LOW ABOVE THE RIVER, PITCHED UP, AND CONTACTED A STATIC WIRE ON TOP OF SEVERAL ELECTRICAL WIRES THAT CROSSED THE RIVER AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AGL. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED VERTICALLY AND IMPACTED THE WATER 150 FEET WEST OF THE STATIC WIRE AND SANK TO A DEPTH OF 26 FEET. DAYTIME VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED 180 FEET OF 3/8 INCH CABLE WRAPPED AROUND THE HELICOPTER.

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 CEN18FA215Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportOshkosh, WIThe pilot's decision to fly over the river at a low altitude and his failure to maintain clearance with wires during low-level flight.Jun 9, 2018 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N529DW · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20171212023009ICruise/Level Flight · Fort Myers, FLOn December 12, 2017, at 0655 EST a Robinson Helicopter, model R44, N529DW that is registered to mf helicopters LLC., had an engine power problem during cruise and the pilot elected to land the helicopter in an uninhabitated clearing. Visual meteorological…Dec 12, 2017 · Minor damage