# NTSB CEN21LA077: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N371MP, Marietta, TX, December 5, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 5, 2020, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Marietta, TX
- Coordinates: 33.194025, -94.526083 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1940&lon=-94.5261&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: 5 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): 102385
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102385/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102385
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA077

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid a transmission wire during takeoff.

## 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 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)
- [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/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)

## 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 was lifting off from a field near a road with obstructions to the north, east, and south. During the departure to the west, the helicopter collided with a transmission line and the helicopter landed hard on the highway. The fuselage and main rotor blades sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had performed a confined area takeoff.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N371MP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N371MP), registered now, S/N 14298, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II (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: 14298
- Year built: 2019
- Airframe hours: 485.5
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Private Individual
- Registered owner: N371mp Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 9, 2020, 56.5 hours before
- Destination: Texarkana, TX
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Auto-pilot, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,139.4 total, 49.6 in this make and model, 4,945 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 6.2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 4 knots
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: KOSA

## 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 20201205020549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201205020549A), Dec 5, 2020: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Marietta, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot initiated takeoff from an uncontrolled, confined location. During takeoff and climb out, the helicopter made contact with a wire. It then experienced…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102385. 2.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12089843&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ntsb%20form%206120%20cen21la077_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12090107&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=cen21la077%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.

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