- Date
- July 31, 2021, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Randolph, WI
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N285RGRobinson Helicopter R44 II
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20210731008739A
- Case key
- 103607
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 failure to maintain clearance from power lines during a low-level aerial application flight.
Findings · 2
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 making a turn at the end of a field following an aerial application pass, the helicopter struck power lines and subsequently impacted the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor system. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot reported he was aware of the power lines but misjudged the position of the helicopter with reference to the lines and realized that he did not have sufficient room to make the turn without impacting the lines. The pilot stopped the turn and lowered the collective to attempt to pass under the power lines. The helicopter impacted the lower string of lines and impacted the ground, coming to rest almost upright.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N285RG
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 11323
- Built
- 2006
- Airframe hours
- 3,320
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-AE1AS, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Mf Helicopters LLC
- Registered owner
- Mf Helicopters LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- Randolph, WI
- Destination
- Same as departure
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
- Serious
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 27, 2020
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 7,321 total · 5,960 in this make and model · 7,125 as pilot in command · 287 in the last 90 days · 205 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 600 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.05 inHg
- Observed at
- KUNU, 15 nm away
- METAR
- KUNU 311515Z AUTO 24003KT 7SM OVC006 18/16 A3005 RMK AO2 T01800164
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.1 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.