# NTSB CHI04LA134: Robinson R22 Beta, N2301F, Argusville, ND, September 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 2003, 20:00 local (Sep 5, 2003, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Argusville, ND - Coordinates: 47.050357, -96.940368 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0504&lon=-96.9404&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59714 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59714/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA134 ## Probable cause The altitude/clearance not maintained from transmission wire(s) by the pilot during an unknown phase of flight. The transmission wire(s) were a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, unknown - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis A helicopter, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, received substantial damage on impact with transmission line(s) during a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The accident was not reported by the pilot and was discovered by the Federal Aviation Administration on June 4, 2004. The National Transportation Safety Board did not receive a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report from the pilot. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 2003, at 2000 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N2301F, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, received substantial damage on impact with power line(s) near Argusville, North Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Argusville, North Dakota, at an unknown time. The 1991 Robinson R22 Beta, serial number 1822, was registered to the pilot on July 2, 2003. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating and a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. The pilot was issued a third class airman medical certificate on April 2, 2003, with the following restriction: "must wear corrective lenses." A total civilian flight time of 300 hours was reported on the pilot's last airman medical certificate application. The accident was not reported by the pilot and was discovered by the Federal Aviation Administration on June 4, 2004. The National Transportation Safety Board did not receive a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2301F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2301F-2006-08-11), registration cancelled 2006-08-11, S/N 1822, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 Beta - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1822 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 131 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Garry A. Matthys - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PVT, Argusville, ND - Destination: PVT, Argusville, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 300 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: FAR, 15 nm away ## 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 20030904036889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030904036889A), Sep 4, 2003: Robsin R22BETA, Argusville, ND, Substantial damage. (-23) The owner/operator struck powerlines during a personal flight resulting in damage to the main rotor, mast fairing, and antennas. Aircraft accident was… ## Other investigations on N2301F (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI04LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA119), May 12, 2004: Robinson R22 Beta (N2301F), Winsted, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the main rotor drive belts for an undetermined reason, and the pilot's misjudged flare during the autorotation. 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.