# Accident 20210730019069A: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Merry, NE, July 30, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 30, 2021, 12:30 local time
- Place: Merry, NE
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 8NBG
- Location: 42.2239° N, 96.5997° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2239&lon=-96.5997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N857TL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N857TL) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,360 total, 246 in this make and model, 243 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA348) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210730019069A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 30, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 1230 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME (CDT) A ROBINSON R66 HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DUE TO IMPACT WITH TERRAIN AFTER CONTACTING HIGH TENSION POWER LINES. AT 0730 CDT THE PILOT CHECKED WEATHER AND DEPARTED FOR AN EXPECTED 9 HOUR DAY OF PART 137 SPRAYING OPERATIONS. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE MARGINAL VFR AND THERE WAS A 30 MINUTE DELAY FOR LIGHT RAIN IN THE OPERATIONS AREA AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 CDT. THE HELICOPTER WAS RELOADED AND THE PILOT FLEW APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES TO HIS NEXT TARGET FIELD LOCATED IN MERRY NEBRASKA. THE PILOT REPORTED MAKING TWO RECONNAISSANCE PASSES, AND NOTED HIGH TENSION POWER LINES ON THE SOUTH BORDER OF THE FIELD. ON HIS FIRST APPLICATION PASS, THE PILOT INITIATED A CLIMB TO CLEAR A HILL IN THE FIELD. AS HE CRESTED THE HILL HE NOTED THE POWER LINES WERE DIRECTLY IN HIS PATH. THE PILOT STATES HE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB QUICKLY ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE POWER LINES, AND CONTACTED THEM WITH HIS LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED IN A FORWARD DECENT IMPACTING THE GROUND IN AN ADJACENT CORNFIELD, COMING TO REST ON THE COPILOT SIDE. THE GROUND CREW OF A DIFFERENT OPERATOR HEARD THE EVENT AND RADIOED THEIR PILOT WHO LOCATED AND REPORTED THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 CEN21LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA348), Jul 30, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R66 (N857TL), Merry, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire during a low-level aerial application flight.

## Other reports on N857TL (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20210610006679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210610006679I), Jun 10, 2021: Robinson Helicopter Co R66 (N857TL), Destin, FL, Minor damage. Pilot in command elected to land from steep approach, gusty winds induced settling with power, pilot failed to recognize increasing rate of descent.

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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