# Accident 20190731010839A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Fessenden, ND, July 31, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 2019, 08:30 local time
- Place: Fessenden, ND
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LPGG
- Location: 47.6492° N, 99.6292° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6492&lon=-99.6292&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3066T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3066T-2020-10-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,866 total, 239 in this make and model, 153 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA473](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA473) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190731010839A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL APPLICATION FOR TREATMENT OF CAT TAILS IN APPROXIMATELY A 5 MILE LONG AREA OF DITCHES.  THE MORNING SUN WAS LOW AND OBSCURED VIEW OF WIRES UNTIL THE PILOT SAW THEM AT THE LAST MOMENT. THE PILOT DOVE DOWN AT THE LAST SECOND TO GO UNDER THE WIRE AND STRUCK THE WIRE. THE PILOT FIGURED HE WAS DOING ABOUT 40 KTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CONDUCTED AN AERIAL SURVEY OF THE AREA ON THE PREVIOUS DAY WHEN HE WAS SPRAYING THE SAME STRETCH OF DITCHES. THE PILOT WAS NOT SURE THAT HE DID A SURVEY BEFORE SPRAYING ON THE ACCIDENT DAY.  THE PILOT WAS ABOUT 3 MILES INTO THE PASS WHEN HE STRUCK THE WIRES.

## 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 GAA19CA473](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA473), Jul 31, 2019: Robinson R44 (N3066T), Fessenden, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during an agricultural application flight.

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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