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20190802013229A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R66 · Vandalia, IL · August 2, 2019

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
August 2, 2019 · 15:35 local
Place
Vandalia, IL
Phase of flight
Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules
Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator
7IHG
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N1767L
NTSB investigation
NTSBGAA19CA481
Reported as
Robinson Helicopter R66
Reported engine
Rolls-Royce 250-C300
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificates
Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours
6,640 total90 in this make and model200 in the last 90 days
N1767LRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R66S/N 0044Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R66Engine modelRolls-Royce 250-C300 seriesTurbo-shaft

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.

On August 02, 2019 at 1535 local time a Robinson R66 helicopter struck a suspended power line running from east to west in Vandalia, IL. The pilot was providing commercial aerial application of liquid fungicide. Pilot also reported that an aerial survey was completed at 200 ft AGL looking for wires and other obstacles before dispensing product, but admittedly said he missed sighting of the power line until he was right on it. While flying his north/south "b line" for the GPS sat lock navigation, the pilot struck the wire traveling from north to south at approximately 70 knots and 15 feet above the corn. Both the front fiberglass windscreen and main rotor blade were substantially damaged by impact with the wire. After the pilot struck the power line he reportedly assessed the condition of the aircraft and determined he was able to fly/control the aircraft and landed in a clearing just west of the field he was working. The aircraft rested on a south heading and was shut down in an adjacent field.

As the FAA filed it

ON AUGUST 02, 2019 AT 1535 LOCAL TIME A ROBINSON R66 HELICOPTER STRUCK A SUSPENDED POWER LINE RUNNING FROM EAST TO WEST IN VANDALIA, IL. THE PILOT WAS PROVIDING COMMERCIAL AERIAL APPLICATION OF LIQUID FUNGICIDE. PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT AN AERIAL SURVEY WAS COMPLETED AT 200 FT AGL LOOKING FOR WIRES AND OTHER OBSTACLES BEFORE DISPENSING PRODUCT, BUT ADMITTEDLY SAID HE MISSED SIGHTING OF THE POWER LINE UNTIL HE WAS RIGHT ON IT. WHILE FLYING HIS NORTH/SOUTH "B LINE" FOR THE GPS SAT LOCK NAVIGATION, THE PILOT STRUCK THE WIRE TRAVELING FROM NORTH TO SOUTH AT APPROXIMATELY 70 KNOTS AND 15 FEET ABOVE THE CORN. BOTH THE FRONT FIBERGLASS WINDSCREEN AND MAIN ROTOR BLADE WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED BY IMPACT WITH THE WIRE. AFTER THE PILOT STRUCK THE POWER LINE HE REPORTEDLY ASSESSED THE CONDITION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND DETERMINED HE WAS ABLE TO FLY/CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT AND LANDED IN A CLEARING JUST WEST OF THE FIELD HE WAS WORKING. THE AIRCRAFT RESTED ON A SOUTH HEADING AND WAS SHUT DOWN IN AN ADJACENT FIELD.

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 GAA19CA481Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportVandalia, ILThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an agricultural application flight.Aug 2, 2019 · Substantial damage