What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On July 27, 2018, privacy data omitted was conducting agricultural operations with a Robinson R-44 helicopter. privacy data omitted Located a field to be sprayed, surveilled the field for obstacles and noted all power lines and buildings. privacy data omitted Then started his first pass on the south end of the field moving from west to east at approximately 14 feet AGL. At approximately 300 feet from the end of the pass, privacy data omitted noticed a set of north to south wires connected to the main east to west wires. The connecting power pole for the north to south wires was obscured by a set of trees, making it difficult, if not impossible to recognize during surveillance of the field. privacy data omitted Then impacted the wires, pitching the aircraft aft slightly before separating from the wires and impacting the ground on the aircrafts side. The aircraft remained intact with minor injuries to the airman.
As the FAA filed it
ON JULY 27, 2018, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS CONDUCTING AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS WITH A ROBINSON R-44 HELICOPTER. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ LOCATED A FIELD TO BE SPRAYED, SURVEILLED THE FIELD FOR OBSTACLES AND NOTED ALL POWER LINES AND BUILDINGS. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THEN STARTED HIS FIRST PASS ON THE SOUTH END OF THE FIELD MOVING FROM WEST TO EAST AT APPROXIMATELY 14 FEET AGL. AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET FROM THE END OF THE PASS, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ NOTICED A SET OF NORTH TO SOUTH WIRES CONNECTED TO THE MAIN EAST TO WEST WIRES. THE CONNECTING POWER POLE FOR THE NORTH TO SOUTH WIRES WAS OBSCURED BY A SET OF TREES, MAKING IT DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOGNIZE DURING SURVEILLANCE OF THE FIELD. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THEN IMPACTED THE WIRES, PITCHING THE AIRCRAFT AFT SLIGHTLY BEFORE SEPARATING FROM THE WIRES AND IMPACTING THE GROUND ON THE AIRCRAFTS SIDE. THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED INTACT WITH MINOR INJURIES TO THE AIRMAN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.