# Accident 20211005017419A: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Delta, MO, October 5, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 5, 2021, 14:30 local time
- Place: Delta, MO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 1TJG
- Location: 37.2060° N, 89.7457° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2060&lon=-89.7457&mi=10
- Aircraft: N266RK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N266RK) (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: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total, 2,200 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA006) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211005017419A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS FOLLOWING A CANAL APPLYING HERBICIDE.  A LOW SET OF POWER LINES PARALLELED THE CANAL AND THE PILOT WAS FOCUSED ON AVOIDING THOSE WIRES.  THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A LARGER SET OF TRANSMISSION LINES SUSPENDED ABOVE THE FLIGHT PATH.   THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE UPPER STATIC WIRE AND BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE TWO LOWER TWO INCH POWER CONDUCTOR LINES BELOW DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE.  THE PILOT STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO ROLL THE AIRCRAFT TO CUT THROUGH WIRES AND STOP THE ROTATION OF THE HELICOPTER.

THE ON SCENE EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER SHOWED STRIATION MARKS FROM THE STATIC WIRE WRAPPING AROUND THE STATIC MAST OF THE HELICOPTER.  THE MARKS WERE PRONOUNCED IN A DEEP AREA CRUSHED AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE STATIC MAST.  THE TAIL BOOM WAS FOLDED AT MID SPAN WITH A DEEP INDENTION THROUGH THE TAIL BOOM WITH A CIRCULAR DEPRESSION CONSISTENT WITH THE DIAMETER TO ONE OF THE CONDUCTOR WIRES.  THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES DISPLAYED STRIATION MARKS FROM THE STATIC WIRE ON THE LOWER SURFACE.

THE OPS POI ASKED THE PILOT ABOUT THE METHOD HE USED TO SURVEY HIS WORK AREA PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION.  THE PILOT STATED HE FLEW THIS SECTION OF THE WORK AREA PRIOR TO 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 CEN22LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA006), Oct 5, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R66 (N266RK), Delta, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate inflight planning and his failure to see and avoid a wire which resulted in contact with the wire and subsequent ground impact.

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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