- Date
- May 30, 2024, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Palmyra, MO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N221RHRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- 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
- Federal Aviation Administration: FSDO
- FAA report
- 20240530009339A
- Case key
- 194364
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 approach.
Findings · 3
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 helicopter pilot reported that during an approach to an off-airport confined area, the skid struck the top of a power line that he did not see. Upon impact the helicopter began to nose over and spin as the pilot closed the engine throttle. The helicopter subsequently impacted the road adjacent to the intended landing point. The tail boom separated, and the main rotor system and airframe sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N221RH
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2823
- Built
- 1998
- Airframe hours
- 1,595.5
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-J2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 6, 2024 · 4.8 hours before
- Departed
- Palmyra, MO
- Airport
- none
- Equipment
- ADS-B
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
- 41
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 17, 2023
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 5,103 total · 47 in this make and model · 5,469 as pilot in command · 52 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.09 inHg
- Icing
- Unknown
- Observed at
- KHAE, 13 nm away
- METAR
- KHAE 302315Z AUTO 14004KT 10SM CLR 23/10 A3009 RMK AO2
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.8 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.