- Date
- August 13, 2014, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lancaster, WI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8343PRobinson Helicopter R44
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20140813014799A
- Case key
- 89869
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate monitoring of the environment and failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires during an aerial application flight.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while conduction an aerial application flight, he did not see power lines in his path and the helicopter struck the wires that and then the ground. The main rotor blades severed the tail boom of the helicopter during the event. In his report, the pilot listed no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while conduction an aerial application flight, he did not see power lines in his path and the helicopter struck the wires that and then the ground. The main rotor blades severed the tail boom of the helicopter during the event. In his report, the pilot listed no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8343P
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0313
- Built
- 1996
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-F1B5, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Back Nine Aerial LLC
- Registered owner
- Back Nine Aerial LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 73C · Lancaster, WI
- Destination
- 73C · Lancaster, WI
- Airport
- 73C · Lancaster Muni
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,312 total · 1,118 in this make and model · 1,239 as pilot in command · 252 in the last 90 days · 130 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- PVB
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 2, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.