20220626007979A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Blackwell, TX · June 26, 2022

Date: June 26, 2022 · 08:37 local
Place: Blackwell, TX
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: G9KG
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N4124D
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN22FA288
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,150 total1,100 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N4124DRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 12095 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 II Engine modelLycoming IO-540-AE1A5Reciprocating

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 June 26, 2022 a Robinson R44 helicopter, N4124D was involved in a fatal accident while conducting an aerial application under 14CFR 137. The commercial rated pilot was spraying approximately 50 feet off the ground from a north to south direction when the main rotor system entangled several electrical transmission wires. The aircraft managed to travel about 100 feet further before impacting the ground causing the fatal injuries.

As the FAA filed it

ON JUNE 26, 2022 A ROBINSON R44 HELICOPTER, N4124D WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT WHILE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION UNDER 14CFR 137. THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT WAS SPRAYING APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET OFF THE GROUND FROM A NORTH TO SOUTH DIRECTION WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM ENTANGLED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION WIRES. THE AIRCRAFT MANAGED TO TRAVEL ABOUT 100 FEET FURTHER BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND CAUSING THE FATAL INJURIES.

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 CEN22FA288Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBlackwell, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain proper altitude and clearance during low-level aerial application, resulting in an in-flight collision with power lines.Jun 26, 2022 · Destroyed