# Accident 20190802013229A: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Vandalia, IL, August 2, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 2, 2019, 15:35 local time
- Place: Vandalia, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 7IHG
- Location: 38.9753° N, 89.1425° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9753&lon=-89.1425&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1767L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1767L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R66 (registry code 7640130, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C300 series (registry code 54225, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C300
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,640 total, 90 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA481](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA481) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190802013229A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 GAA19CA481](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA481), Aug 2, 2019: Robinson R66 (N1767L), Vandalia, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines 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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