# NTSB CEN21LA452: Robinson Helicopter R44, N44XB, Mineral Point, WI, July 20, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 20, 2021, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Mineral Point, WI
- Coordinates: 42.874434, -90.208609 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8744&lon=-90.2086&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): 103963
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA452
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103963/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103963
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA452

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid a wire during an aerial application flight, resulting in a collision with the wire.

## 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)

## 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)

## Analysis

The pilot of the helicopter was conducting agricultural application when he noticed the oil pressure light flickering just before making the 180o turn for his next run, and he turned toward a cornfield and made a precautionary landing. The pilot reported that the landing was soft, but the spray boom broke during landing. Two witnesses reported that the helicopter was maneuvering at low altitude and struck a wire before landing in the cornfield. They both reported that the pilot got out and examined the helicopter, got back in, took off, and departed the area. Photographs taken by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector showed that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that he did not feel the impact of the rotor blades with the wire.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44XB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44XB), registered now, S/N 1215, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- 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: 1215
- Year built: 2002
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Mf Helicopters LLC
- Registered owner: Mf Helicopters LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: n/a

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KMRJ

## 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 20210720014179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210720014179A), Jul 20, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R44, Mineral Point, WI, Substantial damage. Mineral Point, WI: N44XB, R44, while conducting spraying-cropdusting, hit a power line, causing the sprayer to detach from the acft. Pilot made a forced…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103963. 11.0 MB in all.

- (Excerpts) sherriff's incident report (item 1, PDF, 5 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12853865&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N44XB%20Sheriff%27s%20Incident_Report_%20(excerpt)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 9.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12854351&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=R44%20photos%20--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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