# NTSB CHI04LA079: Robinson R44, N7184G, Burlington, WI, February 28, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 28, 2004, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Burlington, WI - Coordinates: 42.690555, -88.304443 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6906&lon=-88.3044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58848 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58848/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA079 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and his failure to obtain/maintain clearance from the transmission wire during the takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident were the transmission wire and the pole. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - pole (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The helicopter sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground after contacting a power line and pole during takeoff. The pilot's accident report stated, "I cleared the area did a slow vertical liftoff and a left pedal turn. I was instantly in the wires which were [approximately] 10-12 [feet] north of depot and [approximately] 14-15 [feet] high. Obviously I didn't see the wires and have never seen wires that close to a fuel depot. ... The tail rotor got in the wires first and actually 'reeled' me backwards into the pole. Then the main rotor made contact. Then we hit the ground. It took me a few seconds to kill the engine as we were being bounced around so violently." His safety recommendation was, "The wires should at the very least been marked or identified in some way. (sign, placard) Most importantly they shouldn't have been so close to fuel depot 15-20 [feet] or so low. They should have been underground." ## Factual narrative On February 28, 2004, about 1200 central standard time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N7184G, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground, after contacting a power line, while departing Burlington Municipal Airport (BUU), near Burlington, Wisconsin. Visual Meteorological Conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight's destination was the Grand Geneva Resort Airport (C02), near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The flight departed from Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (ARB), near Ann Arbor, Michigan, and landed at C02. C02 did not have fuel service. The pilot flew to BUU for fuel for the return flight to ARB that day. The pilot's accident report stated: I flew into Burlington from the south directly to the fuel depot. There was a fixed wing aircraft at the south of the depot (not fueling) so I wanted to stay as far left as I could because of rotor wash. I landed the craft near the north end of depot for same reason. After receiving fuel, did my preflight and started the aircraft. I cleared the area did a slow vertical liftoff and a left pedal turn. I was instantly in the wires which were [approximately] 10-12 [feet] north of depot and [approximately] 14-15 [feet] high. Obviously I didn't see the wires and have never seen wires that close to a fuel depot. ... The tail rotor got in the wires first and actually 'reeled' me backwards into the pole. Then the main rotor made contact. Then we hit the ground. It took me a few seconds to kill the engine as we were being bounced around so violently. The pilot did not indicate any mechanical malfunctions in reference to the flight on his report. His safety recommendation was: The wires should at the very least been marked or identified in some way. (sign, placard) Most importantly they shouldn't have been so close to fuel depot 15-20 [feet] or so low. They should have been underground. This was a very dangerous set-up. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7184G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7184G), registered now, S/N 0937, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (registry code 41531, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0937 - Airframe hours: 140 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeff J Johnston - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 2003, 140 hours before - Departed: BUU, Burlington Muni, WI - Destination: C02, LAKE GENEVA, WI - Airport: BUU, Burlington Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 9, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 323 total, 75 in this make and model, 175 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 13 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: BUU ## 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 20040228011559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040228011559A), Feb 28, 2004: Robsin R44, Burlington, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 28, 2004, at 1145 CST a Robinson, R-44 rotorcraft, N7184G, struck and severed an electrical power wire adjacent to a refueling tank, during… 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.