# NTSB CEN20CA300: Robinson R44, N570WH, Dickeyville, WI, July 20, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 20, 2020, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Dickeyville, WI - Coordinates: 42.625278, -90.587776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6253&lon=-90.5878&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101652 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA300 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101652/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101652 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA300 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain clearance from wires during an aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while performing an aerial application flight at low altitude, the helicopter impacted wires between two poles. He stated the wires were higher than he expected due to the change in terrain contours relative to the poles, and he did not see the wires until just before impact. He then performed a precautionary landing to an adjacent waterway. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N570WH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N570WH), registered now, S/N 0538, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R44 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-F1B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (registry code 42353, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0538 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 4581 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: MF Helicopters LLC - Registered owner: MF Helicopters LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 13, 2019, 86 hours before - Departed: Dickeyville, WI - Destination: Dickeyville, WI - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 7,700 total, 380 in this make and model, 6,100 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 107 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: PVB, 5 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200720008839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200720008839A), Jul 20, 2020: Robinson Helicopter R44, Dickeyville, WI, Substantial damage. On July 20, 2020 at 1340 CST, a Robinson R44 helicopter N570WH was conducting an agricultural application flight over a field near Dickeyville WI. The pilot… ## Other investigations on N570WH (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 CEN20CA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA313), Jul 27, 2020: Robinson R44 (N570WH), Dakota, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor clearance from a ground obstacle during a landing. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101652. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10061589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=bgammill7-20_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo of mrb (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10061598&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.