# Accident 20200618005999A: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Pikeville, NC, June 18, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 18, 2020, 17:23 local time
- Place: Pikeville, NC
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: UKRG
- Location: 35.4447° N, 77.9250° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4447&lon=-77.9250&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4QW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4QW-2023-03-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R66 (registry code 7640130, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C300/A1 (registry code 54232, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-a1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C300/A1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 19,340 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA220) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200618005999A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS SPRAYING INSECTICIDE AND CRASHED INTO A FIELD NEAR 320 DAW PATE ROAD, PILOT STRUCK A 5/16 INCH STEEL BRAIDED CABLE. CABLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS IN LENGTH, THAT WAS LOCATED IN THE FAR NORTH EAST CORNER OF THE CORN FIELD BEING SPRAYED. CABLE WAS ATTACHED BETWEEN AN APPROXIMATELY 30FT TELEPHONE TYPE POLE LOCATED 100 YARDS SOUTH OF THE FAR NORTH PERIMETER FIELD ACCESS ROAD AND ATTACHED TO AN APPROXIMATELY 40 FT PINE TREE TO THE NORTH OF THE FIELD. THIS CABLE IS USED BY THE FARMER TO ATTRACT DOVE DURING HUNTING SEASON

## 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 ERA20LA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA220), Jun 18, 2020: Robinson R66 (N4QW), Pikeville, NC, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to see and avoid a small diameter wire during low altitude agricultural spraying operations. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s insufficient property survey.

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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