# NTSB CEN20LA442: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N4386W, Sterling City, TX, March 12, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 11, 2020, 22:45 local (Mar 12, 2020, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Sterling City, TX - Coordinates: 31.162637, -101.27323 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1626&lon=-101.2732&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 FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193472 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA442 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193472/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193472 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA442 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/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 II, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported to local law enforcement that while conducting an aerial application flight, the helicopter impacted power lines. He said that while he had crossed over the power lines multiple times during the application flight; however, the sun was blocked by a cloud and the power line was not visible due to the lack of a reflection off the line. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor mast. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that examined the helicopter on scene, he reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4386W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4386W), registered now, S/N 12847, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 12847 - Year built: 2009 - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Aerial Crane Enterprises LLC , doing business as Aerial Crane Enterprises LLC - Registered owner: Concho Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Departed: E41, Big Lake, TX - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, unknown; flight hours: 1,500 total, 900 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KOZA, 26 nm away - METAR: METAR KOZA 112335Z AUTO 20013KT 10SM CLR 27/12 A2996 RMK AO2= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20200311001429I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200311001429I), Mar 11, 2020: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Big Lake, TX, Minor damage. On March 11, 2020, at approximately 1915 CDT, N4386W, Robinson R44 struck power lines while conducting aerial application on a ranch located 12 miles east of… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193472. 718 KB in all. - Memorandum for record a�� 6120.1 not received (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16558183&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%206120%20Not%20Received-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16558353&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Mor local law enforcement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16572732&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Local%20Law%20Enforcement-Rel.pdf - Accident report pictures (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 521 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16572722&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN20LA442%20Photos-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.