# NTSB CEN22LA350: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N458SG, Marshall, MO, July 31, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 31, 2022, 18:55 UTC
- Place: Marshall, MO
- Coordinates: 39.109139, -93.275472
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1091&lon=-93.2755&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): 105634
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA350
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105634/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105634
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA350

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to adequately survey a field for obstructions prior to a low-level aerial application pass, which resulted in an impact with a powerline.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (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)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (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)

## 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 that, during an aerial application flight in a helicopter, he mistakenly thought a power pole he had observed during an overflight was the termination point of a powerline. He stated that he failed to notice another power pole that was obscured by trees near a small house and impacted the lines between the poles during a spray pass. The helicopter subsequently impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom and 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: [N458SG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N458SG), registered now, S/N 10458, built 2004 (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: 10458
- Year built: 2004
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 245 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Cedar Ridge Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Cedar Ridge Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 8, 2022; seat: right; flight hours: 4,104 total, 2,005 in this make and model, 298 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KMHL, 3 nm away
- METAR: KMHL 312355Z AUTO 17005KT 10SM SCT035 SCT046 SCT050 29/23 A2998 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).

- [Accident 20220731007659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220731007659A), Jul 31, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Marshall, MO, Substantial damage. This aircraft was performing agricultural spraying operations over crops in an open field. The pilot stated that he had just finished a spraying pass heading…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105634. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14320191&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Questionnaire_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 581 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14319299&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- FAA statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 657 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14320228&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-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.