# NTSB CEN22LA387: Robinson Helicopter R66, N641RZ, Millville, MN, August 16, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 16, 2022, 14:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place: Millville, MN
- Coordinates: 44.230005, -92.270729
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2300&lon=-92.2707&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: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105758
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA387
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105758/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105758
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA387

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate inflight planning resulted in impact with a power line.

## Findings

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

- [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=7640130), [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 R66, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported spraying several different fields throughout the day. During the accident spray pass, the pilot sighted a power line and attempted to avoid it by lowering the collective. The helicopter struck the power line and subsequently impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation and that he should made a more complete reconnaissance of the field.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N641RZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N641RZ), registered now, S/N 0028, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R66](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (registry code 7640130) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-series) (registry code 54225, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0028
- Year built: 2011
- Airframe hours: 1706
- Engines: Rolls Royce RR300/250-C300/A1 300 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Iron Horse Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Iron Horse Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 28, 2022, 62 hours before
- Departed: PRIV, Stuartville, MN
- Destination: PRIV, Stuartville, MN
- Equipment: ADS-B, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,020 total, 220 in this make and model, 940 as pilot in command, 229 in the last 90 days, 180 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: KRST, 22 nm away
- METAR: KRST 161954Z 08006KT 10SM FEW045 25/14 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP213 T02500144

## 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 20220816007829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220816007829A), Aug 16, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Millville, MN, Substantial damage. 2022-08-16 N641RZ Robinson R66 Millville MN [privacy data omitted] part 137 agricultural application struck power line. Airman completed east to west recon of…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105758. 5.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14422025&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Damage assessment (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14463503&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20assessment%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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